Disappointed by this one, especially after how much I loved my recent rewatch of Ossessione. This one doesn't hold a candle to that--it lacks the sweatiness, the desperation, the horniness of its Italian counterpart. Indeed, this movie feels like it lacks sex completely, despite a surprising show of skin from Lana Turner. Cora's focus seems to be on running the store, not on satiating any baser needs, and Frank seems to just be along for the ride. It all grinds to a halt in the second half of the movie (despite a super charming performance by Hume Cronyn as the wily defense attorney) before it concludes with a classic Hays Code ending.
A classic film noir that dares to go pretty dark places, even for the genre’s standards, awarding few redeeming qualities to its odd antihero couple. The plot’s generous twists and turns are masterfully staged, always leaving the viewer in the dark as to what might happen next.
Review by DeletedBlockedParent2017-02-21T08:31:52Z
Not the greatest noir film, but it remains a classic because of Lana Turner & John Garfield's performances including hands down one of the best entrances for a character in Hollywood history. I'll never understand anyone who says Lana Turner can't act, cause this film completely proves otherwise. What a presence and charisma she had. Underrated talent, for sure. For me, this was her triumphant performance as the femme fatale. She should have been nominated for Best Actress for this film as opposed to Peyton Place along with Garfield for Best Actor.
John Garfield & Lana Turner have a powerful chemistry and deliver award worthy performances as a couple who never really had a chance. It's a shame they weren't paired in other films following this. They were dynamite together. Cecil Kellaway was great as the older man in the way of Frank and Cora's forbidden love. This is not a perfect film. In fact, the only reason it really works is because of John and Lana. There's way too many plot holes and tries to do too much. But one thing this film does perfectly is showcasing intrigue, mystique and sexyness without having to show everything or be explicit about it. It kept me interested and entertained the entire time. I enjoyed this movie a lot despite some of its flaws. Can't wait to watch more films with John and Lana.