JohnWelles "Whirlpool" (1949), directed by Otto Preminger, the man brought us the classic "Laura" (1944), and stars the luminous Gene Tierney, Richard Conte (who would eventually go on to co-star in Francis Ford Coppola's "The Godfather" [1972] as Don Emilio Barzini), the wonderfully world-weary and haggard Charles Bickford and the malicious José Ferrer giving his best. The main fault in this otherwise fine film that benefits from a nice score by the famed David Raksin and attractive cinematography by Arthur C. Miller, is an exceptionally silly plot from the usually reliable Ben Hecht (who was forced to use the pseudonym Lester Barstow because of a blacklist) that has Gene Tierney, a secret kleptomaniac married to world-renowned psychologist Richard Conte, being manipulated by the villainous José Ferrer to unwittingly become the chief suspect in a murder. The resolution is daft and somewhat spoils the effect of the whole film. So while it's not one of Otto Preminger's finest movies, it still has a lot to like, especially an impeccable cast.

Lechuguilla Ann Sutton (Gene Tierney), wife of a respected L.A. psychoanalyst, steals an expensive ornamental dress pin. She gets caught. Instead of taking her psychological problem to her competent husband (played by Richard Conte), she confides in a hypnotist named David Korvo (Jose Ferrer), who just happens to be present when Ann is caught by store security. This chance encounter propels the plot, which is heavy on hypnosis, and which later involves murder.The problem here is the idea that people can do seemingly impossible tasks while under hypnosis. Maybe it was a plausible premise in 1949. Certainly, the story shows how enthralled people were in those days with the potential of hypnosis. Today though, the story's premise is not remotely credible.The plot is slow. The script is talky. Dialogue contains lots of exposition. B&W cinematography is fine. This is not a film noir, but the lighting is noirish. Soundtrack consists mostly of dreamy, nondescript elevator music, consistent with the sleepy, hypnotic tone of the story.Richard Conte seems stiff and uncomfortable in his role. Gene Tierney is quite beautiful. Yet at times her self-conscious glamour seems to substitute for acting. Tierney's character steals a pin, but Jose Ferrer steals the show, with his resonant voice and expressive face. Constance Collier puts in a delightful cameo appearance as the hostess of an elegant party.That hypnosis can motivate characters is hokey and not believable. And on this pseudo premise the entire story hinges. Too bad. Still, the film provides some dark glamour, and offers some interesting characters. And the film will appeal, of course, to viewers enraptured by Gene Tierney, as "Whirlpool" is largely a cinematic vehicle for her acting.

Spikeopath An interesting and divisive film noir thriller directed by Otto Preminger and written by Ben Hecht (under the blacklist pseudonym Lester Barstow) and Andrew Solt. Adapted from the novel "Methinks the Lady" written by Guy Endore, the film Stars Gene Tierney, Richard Conte, José Ferrer, and Charles Bickford. Arthur C. Miller is the cinematographer and David Raksin, under the watchful eye of Alfred Newman, provides the music.The plot sees Ann Sutton (Tierney), the wife of a successful psychoanalyst (Conte), arrested for shoplifting since she has some kleptomania issues. Just when it seems Ann is about to be thrust into a world of scandal, she is saved by smooth-talking hypnotist called David Korvo (Ferrer). Korvo, however, is not what he seems to be, and Ann soon finds herself involved in blackmail and murder and her marriage on the brink of collapse. Confused and emotionally torn, Ann is unsure whether or not she has committed a crime. It looks bleak unless her husband or the police can get to the bottom of the murky mystery.Combining a psychological thriller core with overt melodramatics, Whirlpool has still to convince many of the film noir hoards as to its worth. Some critics find the concept of the story silly and hard to take, whilst others have gone a step further to suggest that Preminger and Hecht have merely remade Hitchcock's Gregory Peck starrer Spellbound (Hecht on screenplay duties there too) from four years earlier. Either way, and putting a noirish sheen on a Hitchcock movie is no bad thing by the way, Preminger's movie is a compelling little piece of cinema. The central theme of hypnosis as a weapon gives the film a dark edge and Preminger nicely portrays a world containing sympathetically flawed characters. While in the form of Ferrer's oily slick Korvo, film noir gets a most intriguing Mabuse/Freudian like villain of high entertainment value.Tierney doesn't have to do much here, asked to portray confusion and a almost constant state of hypnotism, she delivers well enough whilst always remaining innocently sexy. Conte's woodenness as the husband oddly benefits the story, while also worthy of a mention is the ever watchable Charles Bickford as Lt. Colton, a thinking man's copper, Bickford keeps it serious as the daftness of the plot threatens to submerge and unhinge the drama.Frowned upon by big hitting American critics, the film found support from notable Frenchies Rivette and Godard. It seems that like myself, they also liked the quirky and creepy nature of the beast. 7/10

Claudio Carvalho After shoplifting an expensive pin in a department store, the wife of the prominent psychoanalyst Dr. William Sutton (Richard Conte), Ann Sutton (Gene Tierney), is arrested by one of the security guards. The swindler astrologer and hypnotist David Korvo (José Ferrer) recognizes the woman and convinces the manager to release her. Later, David calls Ann and asks her to meet him in his hotel, and he proposes to treat her kleptomania through hypnosis. Ann accepts the offer, but Davis uses Ann to get rid of Theresa Randolph (Barbara O'Neil), a widow that had stolen the heritage of her daughter. When Theresa is found dead, Ann is accused of murder by the skeptical Lt. James Colton (Charles Bickford), but she has no recollections of what happened in that specific night. Meanwhile David has a strong alibi to support his innocence."Whirlpool" has a story very hard to believe. The idea of so powerful suggestion of hypnosis is beyond any credibility, and the famous psychoanalyst is at least incompetent, not detecting the problem with his own wife. José Ferrer is great in the role of a cynical villain, but his last act is so stupid that spoils the Machiavellism of his character. Gene Tierney is awful, with an insane, excessively dramatic and silly behavior even when she is not hypnotized. The character of Tom Conte is unpleasant, with his tough attitudes. The conclusion is really terrible. My vote is six.Title (Brazil): "A Ladra" ("The Thief")