Herman Wouk's disapproval of those who engage in sex outside marriage is well know to those familiar with his novels, so it's no surprise to see a heavy tsk-tsk-ing of adultery in this romantic-action-drama set in Florida after World War Two.
It stars Richard Widmark in one of his earliest hero roles, although he's very much an anti-hero, as a tormented pilot who has a steady girlfriend (Veronica Lake) but can't resist the lure of his ex (Linda Darnell), despite the fact she's married to an old mate (John Russell, who I was not familiar with but he's not bad). If this were a trashier film Darnell would be up for it, but she's dragged into an affair and everyone goes tsk tsk to Widmark.
It's kind of a shame there's this moralising because it's a decent movie inside here - the action moves along at a fair clip, there's some impressive plane and hurricane footage, a strong cast (Gary Merrill pops up as man at air control tower, a position he'd often be seen in), an intriguing subplot about Widmark's employer being involved in drug smuggling. But too much of it is watered down - Widmark being all regretful, and Lake meant to be having a drug addiction but we don't see much of it (it's hinted at).
Widmark is okay in a role that seems more made for Dana Andrews; Darnell is good (if only she'd been given more to do) but Lake is poor. The sexy bombshell of Alan Ladd movies here looks like a dull doormat wallflower - she's got no spunk or life, she's a bland nothing. And this film was directed by her then husband, Andre de Toth. This needed a bit more trash.
No comments:
Post a Comment