The Dark Corner (1946)

Just perfect...

It's fun, it's light, [but] it has a hard time when its tries to get heavy.

The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.

An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.

Lucille Ball's name raises obvious preconceptions, but - apart from displaying her unquestioned skill with a one-line put-down - she plays it admirably straight in this nice film noir. In spite of Lucy's top billing, she's by no means the lead. That honour goes to Mark Stevens, who is little-heard of today but who is good value as the private dick with a past.Clifton Webb and William Bendix are on hand to contribute their expertise. The art direction and lighting are a treat. Director Henry Hathaway was in his heyday, keeping a tight grip on pace, and displaying a surprising interest in sound editing - listen to the way the instruments of a jazz band advance and retreat on the soundtrack as the camera passes them in and out of shot.The last reel hurries the plot a little, as if a producer was keeping a beady eye on the running time. But that apart, there's not much to fault. Strange it's not better known.

Why didn't Mark Stevens become a bigger star? He is charismatic, a good actor, sturdy, and interesting. He had a few good roles and then faded away. Even the billing went against him: why is he fourth billed, when he is the lead in the movie? Lucy is terrific in her best dramatic role of her career. Romantic, solid, moral, believable - she's wonderful.Love the contrast between the two New Yorks: the seamy side of lower-class lives and the beautiful wealthy New York that Webb and Kreuger inhabit.Joe MacDonald is the real star of the movie: his camera-work, combined with superb editing, makes this movie visually appealing and exciting throughout.Sorry to read that Lucy had a bad experience with Henry Hathaway, the director of the movie ): His bullying didn't hamper her excellent performance.I particularly love the 1945-1953 black and white movies at Twentieth Century-Fox - they moved out of the studio but unlike later the films were still in gorgeous black and white. It was a big mistake starting in 1967 to make almost all movies in realistic color ): This movie is definitely worth seeking out.

When this was first released in 1946, it probably was shown as the top half of a double bill. In New York, Los Angeles & Chicago it was probably shown exclusively with a stage show for a few weeks first.Today, looking back we consider this a major film because of the cast. In 1946 the cast were known but not major players.A few words on the 4 leads.Lucille Ball was supporting actress in many films for nearly 10 years, this was one of her few leads.She was always likable.Clifton Webb, was a big star in Broadway Musicals before coming to Hollywood to appear in Otto Preminger's Laura , 2 years earlier.His role in this film was similar,William Bendix,had major & featured roles for a few years already, playing the same type role he does here.Mark Stevens, is our main character & this is his first role for 20th Century Fox, he was a in about 10 roles at Warner Brothers before this lucky break.Henry Hathaway directed,He was known for making good fast paced films. The screenplay was taken from a short story by Leo Rosten, It has many typical zippy lines.Also in the cast is Kurt Krueger, an actor from Germany. who was very good looking & very capable. Cathy Downs is prominently cast, Reed Hadley is as always very good.In smaller roles look for Constance Collier(as an art collector) and Ellen Corby as a maid.This was & is a typical private-eye movie, about the same as many others made then. I liked it then & still did last night.Ratings; *** (out of 4) 84 points (out of 100) IMDb 7 (out of 10)

After serving time for involuntary manslaughter, private investigator Mark Stevens (as Bradford "Brad" Galt) relocates from California to New York, and sets up shop. Attracted to new secretary Lucille Ball (as Kathleen Stuart), Mr. Stevens takes her out for dinner and dancing. During their date, Stevens and Ms. Ball are followed by a white-suited William Bendix (as Stauffer). Stevens thinks Mr. Bendix may have been sent by former business partner Kurt Kreuger (as Anthony "Tony" Jardine), who is having an affair with Cathy Downs (as Mari), the beautiful wife of wealthy art dealer Clifton Webb (as Hardy Cathcart).Director Henry Hathaway and 20th Century Fox get far more than they bargained for with this unheralded crime drama. Though he is billed fourth, Stevens does well in the lead. "There goes my last lead," he says, "I feel all dead inside. I'm backed up in a dark corner, and I don't know who's hitting me." Ball is startlingly good, in an atypical role. Conversely, Mr. Webb and Mr. Bendix succeed by reprising familiar characterizations (in "Laura" and "The Glass Key"). Joe MacDonald's black-and-white cinematography is the film's most obvious strength. And, you get a moderate dose of queenly Constance Collier (as Mrs. Kingsley).******* The Dark Corner (4/9/46) Henry Hathaway ~ Mark Stevens, Lucille Ball, Clifton Webb, William Bendix