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- Verified Buyer
First, this is a review of the VCI Entertainment package of this long lost noir, originally made by one of the briefest of the poverty row studios, Classic Film. Simply put - this is the DVD version to get. It boasts the best picture and sound quality currently available of this title, and most likely the best one that will ever be available. It is far superior to the currently available Alpha release, thanks to the restoration work of Jay Fenton who also contributes a very good commentary track for the film as well.They just don't make femme fatales/serial killers like Claire Cummings anymore. Played by the appropriately icy Leslie Brooks, Claire is in the great tradition of poverty row villainous woman: absolutely hard core and cut throat in ways that none of the major studios of the time felt comfortable dealing with. Claire is not in any way, shape or form a "misunderstood" woman, in the way the majors preferred their femme fatales. Nor is she a "tough kid" - basically all right but just a little rough and hardened by life, ala Joan Crawford in Mildred Pierce. And she doesn't need a patsy to do her dirty work for her, as does Barbara Stanwyck in Double Indemnity. Nope, Claire can take care of things herself, thank you. Claire is a psychopath that seeks men out for the money and power they bring her and kills them quickly if they fail to deliver the goods. She is absolutely crazy, brilliant - homicidal. No sweet kid underneath here, not by a very long shot. Claire represents a key quality that was so glorious about poverty row cinema: characters were not required to be sympathetic.This poverty row, noir classic has several other things going for it.1. It was directed by Jack Bernhard, who also was at the helm for another great poverty row noir, Decoy. Not well know anymore, Bernhard was a great poverty row director that really knew his craft and was able to deal with difficult themes, most notably seriously crazy, complex women, with grace and skill.2. The film contains a great performance from Leslie Brooks, and also from the male lead, Robert Paige. Paige was passed the prime of his career when this film was made, having slipped from the major studios to poverty row, and he would slip further after this, ending up with very spotty television work. Yet his work in this film is committed and very moving. There is, in fact, one scene in the film in which his character, Les Burns, drunkenly confronts Claire with his suspicions, that is so well acted any actor of any era would be proud to call their own. Paige was a fine actor, giving this poverty row production 100%3. Another poverty row hallmark: great character actors playing great juicy parts. My favorite in the film - the sadly forgotten James Griffith, who always played a slim fox, full of snide oily comments delivered in a butter smooth voice.4. Perhaps most importantly, this film was shot by George Robinson, who also was the cinematographer on such moody pieces as House of Dracula, House of Frankenstein, and The Scarlet Claw. Another old pro who really knew his stuff. Jay Fenton talks about this great artist quite a bit in his wonderful commentary track, explaining how he liked to shine tiny flashlights in actors eyes to make them glow with madness or evil, and how he was a master of shot composition.All in all, a great film presented in a great package. Highly recommended.
