PERHAPS SOMEONE HAD the idea of replicating Director Fritz Lang's success at both the critical level as well at the box office with the Spencer Tracy starring vehicle, FURY (MGM, 1936). Although the story lines aren't quite on the same level, they do feature a great deal of court room drama and all of the elements of the detective story; as well as definite influences from Noir Films.
WHAT WE, THE members of the viewing audience are asked to do is bear witness to some highly methodical sorts of criminalized re-enactment of a murder. The police procedural aspect of the story and the e-x-t-e-n-d-e-d contrivances that are presented serve to grind the action to such a halt that seemingly goes on forever.
IN TRYING TO be a little too smart and "cute" with the viewer, the script does some fancy twists, double twists and even a triple or two. When the final reality is revealed, we find ourselves saying, "But of course" rather than "Yeowww!! That's it!" THE CAST ASSEMBLED is better than average with some fine support given from the character players such as: Sidney Blackmer, Barbara Nichols, Arthur Franz, William Boyett and Dan Seymour. They did manage to get us pulling for them to somehow make this a better and more enjoyable film.
OF THE PRINCIPAL players, Dana Andrews and Joan Fontaine are cast in the leads. While their efforts are commendable, they have been showcased to better advantage. Miss Fontaine in particular seems to be quite underused.
AS AN ENTERTAINMENT, this is alright for an otherwise quiet day. You should see it once, just to say you did it. You'll be glad you did!
WHAT WE, THE members of the viewing audience are asked to do is bear witness to some highly methodical sorts of criminalized re-enactment of a murder. The police procedural aspect of the story and the e-x-t-e-n-d-e-d contrivances that are presented serve to grind the action to such a halt that seemingly goes on forever.
IN TRYING TO be a little too smart and "cute" with the viewer, the script does some fancy twists, double twists and even a triple or two. When the final reality is revealed, we find ourselves saying, "But of course" rather than "Yeowww!! That's it!" THE CAST ASSEMBLED is better than average with some fine support given from the character players such as: Sidney Blackmer, Barbara Nichols, Arthur Franz, William Boyett and Dan Seymour. They did manage to get us pulling for them to somehow make this a better and more enjoyable film.
OF THE PRINCIPAL players, Dana Andrews and Joan Fontaine are cast in the leads. While their efforts are commendable, they have been showcased to better advantage. Miss Fontaine in particular seems to be quite underused.
AS AN ENTERTAINMENT, this is alright for an otherwise quiet day. You should see it once, just to say you did it. You'll be glad you did!