Film Excess - Free Ukraine - Stop Putin - End the war NOW!!: The Dark Corner (1946)

4/18/2015

The Dark Corner (1946) - Hathaway's great film noir

♥♥♥♥♥

Sinister truths seem to await right around Henry Hathaway's The Dark Corner on this atmospheric, painted poster

QUICK REVIEW:

Lucille Ball (I Love Lucy (1951-57)) is engaging as secretary Kathleen, the dream woman for private detective Galt (Mark Stevens (Cry Vengeance (1954))), who gets framed and hunted for murder. A man in a white suit, an art collector and a hell of a lot of booze, cigarettes and coffee are some of the other ingredients in this romantic film noir.

- Who would have guessed SPOILER that the rich gallery owner (Clifton Webb (Laura (1944)) with a positively freezing British accent) was the coldblooded crook here?
In Dark Corner, we are allowed to wallow in shadows (cinematography by Joseph MacDonald (Pickup on South Street (1953))), suspense and intelligent dialog. The script is by Jay Dratler (Laura) and Bernard C. Shoenfeld (The Magic Sword (1962)) with story by Leo Rosten (The Velvet Touch (1948)) and uncredited work by Harry Kleiner (Red Heat (1988)) and Fred Kohlmar (Bye Bye Birdie (1963), producer). Henry Hathaway (True Grit (1969)) directed it, probably one of his best films, (though he directed more than 60, so it is hard to say for sure so far hence.)
The Dark Corner, in any case, is an exquisite pleasure.

Related reviews:

Henry Hathaway: Airport (1970) or, A Genre Is Born (uncredited director of winter outdoor scenes)
Circus World/The Magnificent Showman (1964) - Hathaway and Bronston's grand, ill-fated curio

Watch a trailer for the film here

Cost: Unknown
Box office: Unknown
= Unknown
[Dark Corner is recognized as an excellent low-budget noir; great film critic Leonard Maltin gives it the equivalent of 4 stars in our system (3 in his), and it holds a 100 % fresh rating from Rotten Tomatoes, (based on 8 reviews.)]

What do you think of The Dark Corner?
Other great film noirs that you want to recommend?

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William Friedkin has died

Born in Chicago, Friedkin accrued TV credits prior to his advance to the big screen as the director of Good TImes (1967), The Birthday Party (1968), The Night They Raided Minsky's (1968) and The Boys in the Band (1970) before his major breakthrough, The French Connection (1971), for which he won his only Oscar. He followed it up with the even bigger smash, The Exorcist (1973), arguably the best horror film of all time, for which he was Oscar-nominated. Later credits include Sorcerer (1977), Cruising (1980), To Live and Die in L.A. (1985), Rampage (1987), Rules of Engagement (2000), Killer Joe (2011) and The Devil and Father Amorth (2017, documentary). Friedkin passed away at age 87. R.I.P.

Louise Fletcher has passed away

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Jean-Luc Godard has passed away

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Wolfgang Petersen has died

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Caan was born the son of Jewish immigrants from Germany in New York. He got his start on TV in the early 1960s. His credits include El Dorado (1966), The Rain People (1969), Brian's Song (1971, TV movie), The Godfather (1972), - for which he earned his only Oscar nomination, - Slither (1973), The Gambler (1974), Funny Lady (1975), Rollerball (1975), Silent Movie (1976), Hide in Plain Sight (1980), - the only film he also directed, - Thief (1981), Misery (1990), Honeymoon in Vegas (1992), Bottle Rocket (1996), Eraser (1996), Dogville (2003), Elf (2003), Las Vegas (2003-07), Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs (2009) and many more. Caan passed away at age 82. R.I.P.

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Ray Liotta has died

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Philip Baker Hall has died

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Film Excess - Free Ukraine - Stop Putin - End the war NOW!!

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4/18/2015

The Dark Corner (1946) - Hathaway's great film noir

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