dougdoepke RKO,1949, a peak year for noir, at least that's what I was expecting. But that turns out not to be the case. Instead, the production's more like TV's Father Knows Best, except this suburban dad (Lynn) has one foot in deep trouble. It's a clever, non-clichéd plot device. Dad's pulled into a suicide-to-look-like-murder insurance scheme because he needs money. In short, his job's not paying enough, plus he may be looking at unemployment. At his nice post-war home, there're two cute kids plus a loving Jane Wyatt type wife. In brief, he's living the life GI's fought for a few years earlier. And though he wavers, he can't let the American Dream slip away, even if it does involve a crime.At first, I missed what I thought was needed noirish atmospherics. But now I figure that would have been all wrong. Noir would have pulled in the metaphysics of fate, doom, et al. And that would have detracted from the middle-class morality tale that the film is really about. It's not fate that moves Sam; it's ordinary desires for a happy home, circa 1950. In short, it's the financial underside of 50's sit-coms, where family problems go beyond a late trash pick-up or a cranky neighbor. Plus, it's filmed in that same straightforward manner. Lynn's perfect as the low-key Dad; he's got "solid citizen" written all over him. Ditto Scott as wife and mom. And what a marvelously versatile actor Henry Morgan was. Here his limping detective commands respect despite the disability. Actually, I should have known something was up when Katherine Emery was cast as schemer Jarvis's (Gaines) wife. A favorite of horror-meister Val Lewton's, she was adept at the sinister.I could have done with a less pat ending, but them's the hazards of the Code enforced period. All in all, it's a smoothly done 70-minutes, perhaps too low-key for its own good. Still, the crime drama shrewdly humanizes a familiar 50's stereotype, and in an appealing way.

LeonLouisRicci Although not Evident at the Time (1949) this has an Eerie Feel of a TV Sitcom in Bizarro Land. All the Trappings are there, Suburban Family of Four with Mom, Dad, One Boy, and One Girl. They Gather Round the Breakfast Table and Talk about what the Day has In Store. Mom Cooks and Dad Reads the Paper. It's All so Quiet and Reassuring. But Wait.This isn't a TV Sitcom, that would be in a Few Years, and this isn't Springfield. Because Dad's Assistant Accounting Job doesn't Pay Enough to Support this Nuclear Family, there is Financial Strife. Mom tells Dad to ask for a Raise. He does and then is Fired. Then Things Spiral out of Control with a Payoff to Dad for a Little Help Pulling off a Suicide by His Boss to Collect the Insurance for His Family. Enter Super-Cop, Ex-OSS Officer Harry Morgan who is a Police Chief with a Shattered Leg (what?) and He is not so Convinced it's Suicide. Uh Oh, Dad gets Nervous.This isn't a Bad Little B-Movie from RKO and is Well Acted with Enough Mystery to Keep it Going for just Over an Hour. Nothing too Special Except the Beneath the Surface Financial Struggle of the Post-War Suburban Family that by Most Accounts were Supposed to be in Boom Times. Or so We were Told. But Not if You Looked Closely at Film-Noir and Other Cutting Edge Truth Tellers. Bring on the 1950's and Everybody Don't Worry Be Happy, and if there be Any Doubt, Watch the Sitcoms.

Alex da Silva Richard Gaines (Jarvis) really sucks at running a company. Not only that but he has also blown his inheritance. Now he's feeling guilty and is prepared to kill himself in order to provide for his wife Katherine Emery (Mrs Jarvis) and his son. He hatches a plan to kill himself but it must look like murder if his family is to benefit from his life insurance, so he asks employee Jeffrey Lynn (Sam Wilson) to help him with his pre-planned actions. Lynn gets reluctantly caught up in the plan but is all as it seems? Harry Morgan (Lt Webb) arrives on the scene with his cane to sort things out.The best part of the film comes near the beginning as Jeffrey Lynn politely asks his boss Gaines for a pay rise and is promptly told that he is sacked. Wow. That was pretty harsh. But pretty funny. The story moves along at a good pace but it does, unfortunately, involve an annoying child in the form of Michael Chapin (Roddy), who demonstrates everything that is annoying about children - his language "Gee this" and "Gee that" and "Dad, you're a card" - aaaargh, shut up you brat. Martha Scott (Mrs Wilson) also has a peculiar character. She starts off as a homely mother who suddenly undergoes a character change to become a busy-body who wants to poke her nose and interfere in the lives of others that she doesn't know. It doesn't ring true and she definitely does not merit top billing in the film.Overall, there is enough of a story to keep you watching and it's quite enjoyable trying to work out who-dunnit.

bmacv A sedate thriller built upon the insecurities of the newly emergent white-collar class, Strange Bargain offers solid production values and brisk direction. Jeffrey Lynn (who looks like a solution of Ray Milland and Bruce Bennett) is a hard-working family man who earns his keep as an accountant. One morning when the milk bill comes due he screws up his courage to ask for a raise; when he does, his boss tells him that the firm's at the brink of bankruptcy, and lets him go. But wait -- there's more! The boss plans to kill himself but make it look like murder so his wife can collect the insurance; for helping, he offers Lynn $10-grand. Lynn tries to prevent the suicide but arrives too late, finding his boss already dead. Enter a police detective (Harry Morgan) whose instincts tell him all is not as it seems (not only to him, but to us as well). Morgan aside, you're not likely to recognize any of the cast, but the story works itself out neatly and holds your interest. Too polite and middle-class to be true noir, Strange Bargain nontheless delivers what it promises.