atlasmb "Phantom Lady" is a crime drama, a notable example of film-noir, and a variation on a police procedural/investigation, but at its heart, it's a love story. Ella Raines, a relative newcomer to Hollywood, plays Carol Richman, whose boss has been unjustly convicted of murder. His alibi is tenuous, but she believes him, and sets out to prove his innocence.The film is a primer for stylists. Everything--from the sets, to the lighting, to the camera work--accentuates the contrast and drama that are the hallmarks of film-noir style.The characterization and dialogue also contribute to the aesthetic. Combining suggestiveness and a focus on the mindset of criminals, the script careens through the dark side of society much as Carol goes from longshot to longshot, trying to find a thread of information that might free Scott Henderson, played by Alan Curtis.Franchot Tone plays Jack Marlow, the man who returns from overseas to assist Carol in her disheartening search. Ella Raines is the main attraction of this film, and she effectively portrays a naïve hopefulness that allows her to, surprisingly, pretend to be a much more worldly woman is pursuit of her quest. This is an actress with range and beauty who should have become a bigger star.

robert-temple-1 This is a very good mystery thriller in the film noir mode, directed by the émigré German director Robert Siodmak. It is based on a novel by Cornell Woolrich. The plot may not be entirely original, but it is very effective. Alan Curtis is the leading man. He is little remembered today, partly because he died early at the age of only 43 in 1953, nine years after this film was released. Curtis is unhappily married and goes to a bar (in Manhattan) to have a drink to comfort himself. There he meets a mysterious woman in an outlandish hat, who takes a seat beside him but seems deeply preoccupied with her own troubles. Curtis has two tickets for a hit show to which he had intended to take his wife, but as she refused to go, he offers them to the woman, saying it is a shame for them to go to waste. He ends up taking the woman to the show, but she refuses to give him her name and she remains an enigma. He returns home later to find three policemen waiting for him, and his wife lying in the bedroom, having been strangled to death by one of his own ties while he was out. So we are faced with that favourite plot element of many such films, the need to find the mysterious woman who is the only person who can prove his alibi and prevent him being wrongly executed for the murder of his wife. Meanwhile, some witnesses have been bribed to lie about having seen him with the woman, and this raises sinister doubts as to what is really going on. Curtis's secretary, who secretly loves him, played by Ella Raines, sticks by him and does some detective work after he is arrested. She is determined to prove his innocence. Franchot Tone gives a chilling and convincing performance as a psychopathic killer, and the lines of dialogue given to him when he attempts to justify himself are even more chilling than his performance itself. Woolrich must have known a few crazies personally to get it so accurate. Elisha Cook Jr. has a significant role in the film, and he always lends an air of horrifying authenticity to any film noir, especially when he opens his eyes wide with terror in that special way he had. In this film, he shows that he is a good drummer in a jazz band. This is well worth watching.

seymourblack-1 "Phantom Lady" is notable for having provided legendary film noir director Robert Siodmak with his first American success. Its story, which was adapted from a Cornell Woolrich novel, involves an innocent man who's wrongly accused of murdering his wife and his loyal secretary who embarks on a race against time to prove his innocence. This tale of murder, bribery and betrayal features some extraordinary scenes and the action (which is set in New York City) takes place in locations which often look dark and threatening.After having quarrelled with his wife on the evening of their wedding anniversary, despondent civil engineer Scott Henderson (Alan Curtis) consoles himself with a drink at a local bar and starts to reflect on the fact that he has a couple of tickets for a Broadway show. On the spur of the moment, he asks a lady sitting next to him if she'd like to accompany him to the show and she agrees subject to the condition that they don't disclose or discuss any personal information. The show is eventful because, not only does the drummer in the orchestra try to flirt with Scott's mystery lady but also one of the stars of the show, Estela Monteiro (Aurora Miranda) shows her extreme annoyance when she realises that the lady with Scott is wearing a hat identical to her own. At the end of the evening, Scott and his companion part company and he goes home.When Scott arrives at his apartment, he finds three detectives there and is informed that his wife has been strangled to death with one of his ties. He immediately becomes the prime suspect and when his alibi doesn't stand up, he's charged and subsequently found guilty of murder.Scott's devoted secretary, Carol "Kansas" Richman (Ella Raines) is secretly in love with him and utterly convinced that he wouldn't be capable of murder and so sets out to find the real killer before Scott's executed. On the night of the murder a bartender, a cab driver and Estela Monteiro had all seen Scott but they all denied seeing a lady with him. Carol uses an unorthodox method to try to persuade the bartender to change his testimony but he's accidentally killed when he gets run down by a car. To her surprise, Police Inspector Burgess (Thomas Gomez) who'd been involved in Scott's case also comes to the conclusion that Scott is innocent and unofficially assists with her investigation.Carol subsequently discovers that the orchestra drummer at the theatre had been bribed to say that no-one was with Scott on the night of the murder and when she eventually discovers the identity of Scott's mysterious woman it unfortunately doesn't provide the simple solution to the case that she'd hoped for or expected.Ella Raines' performance is astonishingly good because of the way that she changes her demeanour so successfully in a variety of different situations. She goes from being convincing as a typical secretary to showing the psychological strength needed to totally unnerve the bartender who'd perjured himself and then flaunts herself outrageously in a scene where she tries to seduce the drummer Cliff Milburn (Elisha Cook Jr.).At one juncture of the movie, Cliff takes Carol to a jam session where he launches into an improvised drum solo which is so sexually charged and intense that it goes well beyond the level of mere innuendo and the way that Carol responds is equally strong and provocative. This scene is highly entertaining and provides a marvellous example of the kind of innovation and originality that filmmakers employed to express themselves powerfully in times when censorship standards made their job more difficult."Phantom Lady" is well directed and the scenes in which low-key lighting is used provide a perfect backdrop for the type of action on show as well as contributing strongly to the ominous atmosphere of the piece.

rafael105 The wired jazz scene with Elisha Cook banging away at the mad drums is worth the whole movie. Plus, there's Ella Raines, looking lovelier than ever. This movie must have really disturbed 1944 audiences. There's a psycho murdering sculptor with strong hands and a fatal weakness. There's fat nasty policemen who breathe down everyone's necks. There's Aurora Miranda trying to steal sister Carmen's act. There's lots of sweating in the August swelter of New York. There's plenty of bad acting and bad dialogue. But, there are also some really unusual shots of street scenes during the long sequence in which Ella pursues the bartender to his death. Strong stuff, indeed. And, did I mention there's Ella Raines looking lovelier than ever? I think I'm in love.