Purr Blur! A black cat makes a very brief and difficult to see appearance in this film reviewed by Ted Davis.
The Glass Key (1935)
Category Archives: Film Noir
The Face Behind the Mask (1941)
by Ted Davis Directed by: Robert Florey Synopsis: Through a series of tragic and unfortunate incidents, newly arrived immigrant Janos Szabo (Peter Lorre) is transformed from a naive and gentle-souled watchmaker into an embittered and cold-hearted criminal mastermind, who hides his ruined features behind a creepy emotionless mask, and whose only redeeming qualities are his […]
The Missing Juror (1944)
by Mark Murton Directed by: Budd Boetticher Synopsis: The jurors of a celebrated murder case are being bumped off one by one. Reporter Joe Keats (Jim Bannon), who found the evidence that saved the man originally convicted of the crime from the hangman’s noose, returns to the case, attempting to warn the remaining six jurors […]
House of Numbers (1957)
by Brian H Directed by: Russell Rouse Cat Out of the Bag Alert! This review contains some spoilers for this film! Synopsis: Arnie Judlow (Jack Palance) is an inmate at California’s San Quentin prison. Arnie arranges with his honest brother Bill (also Jack Palance but not a twin) to escape by having Bill sneak into […]
Hit and Run (1957)
Directed by: Hugo Haas Synopsis: Garage owner Gus Hilmer (Hugo Haas) woos and marries the much younger Julie (Cleo Moore) who is only interested in his money and his younger more handsome mechanic Frank (Vince Edwards). Purr Blur (and Cat Burglar Scene Stealer!): As Gus approaches a remote rundown house with a For Sale sign […]
Dark City (1950)
Directed by: William Dieterle This review contains a Slight Kitty Carnage Warning! Synopsis: Danny Haley (Charlton Heston), who runs a recently raided gambling location, bilks a visiting businessman (Don DeFore) out of a large sum of money which then leads him to fear reprisal from the man’s criminal brother (Mike Mazurki). Purr Blur: Danny’s buddy […]
House by the River (1950)
by Ted Davis Directed by: Fritz Lang Cat Out of the Bag Alert! This review contains some spoilers for this film! Synopsis: The clumsy and aggressive attempt by unpublished author Stephen Byrne (Louis Hayward) to seduce servant girl Elsa Gaunt (Dorothy Patrick) results in her tragic death. Immediately after his crime, Stephen is genuinely shocked […]
Deported (1950)
Directed by: Robert Siodmak Synopsis: Vic Smith (Jeff Chandler) is an American gangster deported to Italy where he gets involved in crime and falls for a Countess (Märta Torén). Purr Blur: In one scene a woman named Gina (Marina Berti) is following Vic through the streets. She passes very close to a tuxedo cat who […]
Orders To Kill (1958)
by Mark Murton Starring: Mirabel Director: Anthony Asquith Cat Out of the Bag Alert! This review contains MAJOR spoilers for this film! Synopsis: A young American Air Force pilot, Gene Summers (Paul Massie), is recruited to take part in a secret UK government mission to eliminate Marcel Lafitte (Leslie French), a suspected traitor in the […]
The Lost Moment (1947)
by Ted Davis Directed by: Martin Gabel Cat Out of the Bag Alert! This review contains some spoilers for this film! Synopsis: Publisher Lewis Venable (Robert Cummings) schemes to acquire the lost love letters of a 19th century poet who vanished under mysterious circumstances. Kitty Cameos: In the mansion where Venable is lodging under false […]