150th Post! Film Noir Week: The Woman in the Window

Alrighty kids welcome to the Film Noir Week and let’s kick this shindig off with some Fritz Lang (Metropolis, The Testament of Dr. Mabuse, M and Fury) and we will see the genius envelope you and the phenomenal standing that is this movie.  So wipe down those prints, ditch the murder weapon and try to blot up that blood pool.  This is The Woman in the Window.

An indecent proposal?  Well...okay.

The streets were dark with something more than spoilers

This film tells the sad tale of a middle aged professor of psychology Richard Wanley (Edward G. Robinson of Double Indemnity, The Stranger, Key Largo and The Ten Commandments)  and friends ogle a portrait of a lovely woman in the window next to the fellas’ gentlemen’s club .  By happenstance Wanley bumps into the lovely Alice Reed and becomes enamored with the young model/femme fatale. After a get together with Alice Reed (Joan Bennett of Scarlett Street, Man Hunt, Girl Trouble, Nob Hill and Dark Shadows) to check out her etchings (wink wink) but feels it is a bit off being a married man, nevertheless he follows her up to said apartment.  As he and Alice relax, her boyfriend misconstrues Wanley’s intent and instigates a donnybrook.  Reed accidently stabs him and the professor’s life goes topsy-turvy after killing Alice’s insanely jealous sugar daddy, know as Frank Howard (Arthur Loft of Teddy the Rough Rider, Charlie Chan in the Secret Service, Scarlet Street, Blondie Knows Best and Lone Star Moonlight)  slowly quickly sinks into a quagmire of blackmail and murder Wanley is terrified for his career and life,    he is flailing around in a world he has lectured against he feels there is no one to turn to that would believe him anyway.

Alright! I will move from your chair!

Inspector Jackson (Thomas E. Jackson of Manhattan Melodrama, Little Caesar, The Big Sleep, Meet Me at the Fair and Crime Wave) attached to Homicide is hot on the case as Wanley is sweating bullets, trying to stay on top of the case all the while attempting to remain calm and collective.  Alice tries to meet with Wanley and tells him that blackmail is on the rise and he needs to help her raise the money to keep the blackmailer at bay.    Yeah that trick always works.

Just a few points of the film I would like to observe.  The film is based on the novel One Off Guard by J.H. Wallis, screenplay was adapted by accomplished screenwriter Nunnally Johnson (The Grapes of the Wrath, How to Marry a Millionare, The Three Faces of Eve and The Dirty Dozen) was able to form International Pictures, his own independent production company into a radio play adaption reprising the roles for all actors.  

So Professor, how does one conceal a body well?

35mm Spherical Panavision and the lighting and soundtrack speak such volumes for this movie.  The tone is dark and bleak with no sign of a safety net in sight.   This is a roller coaster of a film. Robinson’s performance is incredibly believable and Bennett is a desperate beauty whose portrayal is so convincing you truly feel for both of them and you are just on pins and needles as this story unfolds.  This mystery is absolutely spellbinding and I highly recommend this film for everyone that enjoys this genre.