The first of two noirs John Farrow made for Howard Hughes starring Bob Mitchum, being loaned out by Paramount. This has a simple story with doctor Mitchum falling for Faith Domergue, famed Hughes "discovery", not realising she's married to Claude Rains. Soon he's dead and they go on the run.
Mitchum has to act like a dill for a lot but the film has a certain hypnotic quality. There's not a lot of twists it's more a mood piece as Mitchen amd Domergue make a break for the border. Mitchem keeps trying to stay awake as he becomes increasingly paralysed.
The border town is fun, with its beard competition, dodgy vaudeville show, and shonky Philip Van Zandt helping them get across. Ther's a film in that town.
It was known as White Rose for Julie. Irwin Allen co produced this. It started his relationship with screenwriter Charles Bennett.
It does feel a little bit of a cheat that Mitchum is allowed to live at the end.
No comments:
Post a Comment