Good, solid low budget film noir is no "lost classic", but is still a fine example of the genre, that works basically because of its memorable femme fatale, played to grasping, greedy perfection by sultry Brit Jean Gillie, who was given this film vehicle by her then-husband, director Jack Bernhard. She makes the most of it, and is supported by a great bunch of actors. The movie begins with a flourish, and ends equally well, with a neat and twisty tale to tell (scripted by actor / screenwriter Nedrick Young, based on a story by Stanley Rubin) and a respectable amount of mood and atmosphere.
Sadly, the lovely Gillie had only time to make one more movie - 1947's "The Macomber Affair" - before dying of pneumonia at the tragically young age of 33. If anything gives "Decoy" a true lasting impression, it's her conniving and crafty character.
She plays Margot Shelby, a gang moll who gets shot and fatally wounded in the opening sequence; she dies slowly enough to give hard-nosed, jaded police detective Joe Portugal (Sheldon Leonard, in an excellent performance) her whole sordid story. She was after the money hidden by her mobster boyfriend Frank Olins (Robert Armstrong). Olins had been found guilty of murder and is sentenced to death, but Margot and her other man, Jim Vincent (Edward Norris) learned of a way to revive the dead using a chemical process. As part of the plan, Margot uses a poor sap of a doctor, L.L. Craig (Herbert Rudley).
All things considered, this is well directed by Bernhard and always entertaining, and should be worth a viewing for devotees of film noir. It keeps its grip throughout, for a breezy and enticing 76 minute run time.
Seven out of 10.
Sadly, the lovely Gillie had only time to make one more movie - 1947's "The Macomber Affair" - before dying of pneumonia at the tragically young age of 33. If anything gives "Decoy" a true lasting impression, it's her conniving and crafty character.
She plays Margot Shelby, a gang moll who gets shot and fatally wounded in the opening sequence; she dies slowly enough to give hard-nosed, jaded police detective Joe Portugal (Sheldon Leonard, in an excellent performance) her whole sordid story. She was after the money hidden by her mobster boyfriend Frank Olins (Robert Armstrong). Olins had been found guilty of murder and is sentenced to death, but Margot and her other man, Jim Vincent (Edward Norris) learned of a way to revive the dead using a chemical process. As part of the plan, Margot uses a poor sap of a doctor, L.L. Craig (Herbert Rudley).
All things considered, this is well directed by Bernhard and always entertaining, and should be worth a viewing for devotees of film noir. It keeps its grip throughout, for a breezy and enticing 76 minute run time.
Seven out of 10.