ampetersen-24645 Many appropriately appreciative reviews appear for this surprisingly successful film noir. Most of them can be agreed with. The film, however, is not without a few disappointing flaws. Some scenes run out of steam, a couple are painfully obvious in their attempts to manipulate perception, and a couple just don't work. But the other 85% of the film turns as well as the spirals of a heavy-duty spring in doing what it's supposed to do to contribute to the film. One of many scenes that worked very well is when Connie tries to make up her mind about whether or not to be mercenary. A woman on a dark street has two ways to go, and she's pulled effectively in both. Not clear until the last is which direction she will take. ... Much is said about the dialogue. The NYTimes reviewer at the time was soured by it, but others here mostly don't mind it or like it. Surely, the dialogue is one of the film's assets, fitting inquiring thought to visual mood and an often darkly naturalistic tenor. ... You think you know noir, and then along comes a nice surprise like this one.

fanbaz-549-872209 Some of the dummies who don't get this movie should take the day off and do something useful. Like get a brain. The guy from Florida who thinks the plot lacks credibility should be stopped from going to the movies. You suspend credibility when you see a movie. That is the whole point. Seriously, pal. Superman can't fly. This is a terrific picture full of interesting dialogue that moves away from the cliché. I ask you, when did you last see a turkey farmer with pistol and cello? I won't do the review because others have done it already. I just want to take a pop at the airheads who post on this site and wish they wouldn't.

Movie Critic Unfortunately being a psychiatrist myself kind of ruined this movie content wise (the first part where insanity is debated--shows only people who know absolutely nothing of mental illness). But maybe that was the point as John Ireland hadn't a trace of mental illness--just some sort of PTSD and amnesia.The British Doctor as the paranoid schizophrenic was a stupid cartoon version but much closer the mark and what most B audiences would view as mental illness (fortunately this idiotic denouement only lasts for about the last 5 minutes of the movie.)John Ireland is very handsome and the movie clips right along...the other two actors--the philosopher turkey farmer especially and the barmaid are very sympathetic characters as well.It is very competently filmed and worth a watch. Leagues above the average B movie. Ignore the actual content of philosophy. I once heard that a good educated British accent reading a phone directory sounds intellectual to the average American; this is the same sort of effect you have in this film...just enjoy the flow of the movie and imagine deep things are being said.RECOMMEND

David (Handlinghandel) This weird item begins on a turkey farm. The farmer is a philosopher.The movie is a turkey with pretensions of philosophical wisdom. Every line, virtually, is an epigram, but, though it was made around the same time, this sure ain't no "All About Eve." The dialogue is like that of a mediocre off-off-Broadway play: full of meaning, full of -- well, something else.The story is interesting enough. Nice guy framed by friend. Nice guy is, inexplicable at least in the surviving print, son of rich man. Decent men triumph and reveal the guilty party.Among the other oddities is the casting of Mercedes McCambridge, a fine character actress, as the gorgeous dame. Gorgeous she ain't, though she turns in a game -- no, not gamy -- performance. She was a far better actress than, say, Cleo Moore, but surely someone more convincing was available.The whole thing is entertaining but annoying. It could have stood on its own, minus the pretension that abounds.