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Topic: In a Lonely Place (1950) (Read 808 times) |
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redwards7
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In a Lonely Place (1950)
« Thread started on: Dec 26th, 2008, 10:36pm » |
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We are thankful that Steve-O gives us a discussion forum here at Back Alley, so I want to kick off a discussion of In a Lonely Place. It is one of my all time favorite noirs. I would love to hear the thoughts of the wonderful noir community here about In a Lonely Place.
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Please visit our two podcasts:
"Out of the Past: Investigating Film Noir"
http://outofthepast.libsyn.com
"Behind the Black Mask: Mystery Writers Revealed"
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Steve-O
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In a Lonely Place (1950)
« Reply #1 on: Dec 27th, 2008, 1:56pm » |
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First, I love this movie.
A few great articles on it are online including Barry Gifford's NOTW which is from his excellent book, The Devil Thumbs a Ride http://www.noiroftheweek.com/2007/08/in-lonely-place-1950.html and Kim Morgan's Sunset Gun article http://sunsetgun.typepad.com/sunsetgun/2006/06/romantic_ragein.html
The thing with this film is you are never really sure if Bogey is the killer or not. You know the troubled writer has a hard edge but you, as the viewer, wants him to be innocent. You want his relationship with equally world-weary Gloria Grahame to work out but you just know it wont. The film ending is heartbreaking and unforgettable.
This is a perfect Nicholas Ray film... I read the novel it's based on and was surprised to find out the story isn't nearly as good as the one on the screen. The whole insider-Hollywood parts of the film just aren't in the book. Dorothy B. Hughes' novel is an excellent little pulp worthy of a Hard Case Crime republish but it doesn't compare to the masterwork the film is. Bogart in particular is amazing. Bogey's character apparently hates himself and most of the world around him. During his interview with the cops after the girl is killed makes me want to shake him and make him take things seriously...
[video width="425" height="350"]http://www.youtube.com/v/PIXDEmmQxHU&hl=en&fs=1[/video]
I found Bogie immediately likable and deeply flawed from the start of the film. I think it's one of his best roles - if not his best.
Also, I'm a card-carrying member of the Friends of Gloria Grahame...
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| « Last Edit: Dec 27th, 2008, 1:59pm by Steve-O » |
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Steve-O
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In a Lonely Place (1950)
« Reply #2 on: Dec 27th, 2008, 2:52pm » |
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Just listened to the podcast and was blown away. Great job!
[video width="425" height="340"]http://www.veoh.com/veohplayer.swf?permalinkId=e159327tgftPAAJ&id=anonymous&player=videodetailsembedded&videoAutoPlay=0[/video]
Megan Abbott was fantastic. I have to get a clip of Gloria whispering in Bogie's ear for the website.
Edit: you can listen to the podcast very easily. Just go to the very top of this page and you'll see the player.
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| « Last Edit: Dec 27th, 2008, 6:19pm by Steve-O » |
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Film Noir of the Week
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Steve-O
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Re: In a Lonely Place (1950)
« Reply #3 on: Dec 27th, 2008, 6:40pm » |
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here's the scene Megan Abbott mentions... I forgot how hot it is. Wow. Hot is a term used a lot lately, but I could feel Gloria's warm breath on my ear when I saw it.
[video width="425" height="350"]http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?docid=7636187479636682903&hl=en&fs=true[/video]
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dax
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Re: In a Lonely Place (1950)
« Reply #4 on: Dec 28th, 2008, 1:12pm » |
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Absolutely one of the finest noirs and a favorite of mine. Not until Bogart's character driving like a maniac sideswipes a car, lays a beating on the other driver, and then picks up that rock to possibly finish him off, did I think that he could be a killer. There is no happy ending in this film which is commendable and right for this story. "In A Lonely Place" is a great title for this noir which can have different meanings. Lonely in love, or alone with his demons.
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Steve-O
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In a Lonely Place (1950)
« Reply #5 on: Dec 28th, 2008, 2:58pm » |
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the podcast mentions an alternate ending
[spoiler]
where Bogart ends up killing Gloria Grahame. (In the book, he's guilty all the way. The film was supposed to end with Bogie not being guilty of the initial crime but was driven to kill GG) I was digging through some poster scans and found this:
It looks like a still from the long lost original ending.[/spoiler]
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dax
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In a Lonely Place (1950)
« Reply #6 on: Dec 28th, 2008, 4:33pm » |
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The dvd mentions the alternate ending in the extras, and that Nicholas Ray changed his mind and used the ending we all know today. I'm glad he did. I haven't had time to listen to the podcast yet, but I will.
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| « Last Edit: Dec 28th, 2008, 4:35pm by dax » |
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