CyrusPK
Dec 21, 2020
7/10
A real surprise that showed the advantages of coming across a film completely cold with no knowledge of its plot or reputation. A random discovery on You Tube on a wet afternoon that proved exhilaratingly different.
Starting in the immediate aftermath of a horrendous plane crash a surviving couple consisting of a greedy, soulless wife (Signe Hasso) and her frightened husband (John Warburton) seek to rob an unconscious man and discover details of seemingly disparate people with legal wills promising large sums of money to a man with the wonderful name of Albert Richard Kingby (played by Edmund Gwenn.)
A series of attempts are made to illicitly obtain the money, one resulting in the death of Warburton’s character. Hasso continues dispassionately on with her aims, now in the company of a very corrupt lawyer played by James Craig. Their criminal enterprise continues with little concern for anyone else until dramatic revelations give them pause to think about the true nature of criminality.
An unusual production for MGM of the period this crime thriller lacks the usual polish that the biggest of studios could provide and appears little rough edged at times, perhaps an illustration of the directorial input of Edward L Cahn who spent a career knocking out B films in under a week (some, like It! The Terror From Beyond Space are genuinely extraordinary.) The normally artsy photography of Karl Freund is here mostly point and shoot though the plane crash aftermath is wonderfully handled.
What it also benefits from is very good performances. Signe Hasso uses her strong accent as an effective shield and presents a special patina of evil contrasted with the Edmund Gwenn, generally the player of affable, ingenous characters here is effective as the quintessence of wickedness. The sequence where a character is tortured for information is played quite convincingly and there is a real dark edge to proceedings.
My summary is that this is a solid outing with enough plot surprises and deviations to make it interesting throughout. All credit as well for the careful script and the very strong performances. Notable supporting players such as King Baggot (star of the early silent goes uncredited) whilst Grant Withers and Stephen McNally are sterling additions.