Married insurance adjuster John Forbes falls for femme fatale Mona Stevens while her boyfriend is in jail and all suffer serious consequences as a result.
@@chipsramek3868 Don't see anyone "worshiping" anything~ just people admiring true acting talent, which is sorely lacking in hollywood since the 70s- on.
@@DavidRice111 Too bad You didn't care for my word selection ... how about "Fawning" ... Hollyweird movies are not made in one take ... unlike our "Real" lives.
@selectiveoutrage6617......Dick Powell was growing exceedingly frustrated and bored with the syrupy-sweet 'song-and-dance' films he was making and longed to stretch himself. At that time [the mid-40s] and as the end of WWII neared, America was going through dramatic change - as their men returned home physically [and mentally] scarred from their war-time experiences. 'Film Noir' emerged from this maelstrom as grittier, more realistic films were what the American film-going public demanded. For the best part of ten years, Powell was smart enough to sense this and had seriously canvassed for the role of Walter Neff [eventually given to Fred MacMurray] in Billy Wilder's1944 classic 'Double Indemnity' based on James M Cain's 1943 novel of the same title. Interestingly, 'Double Indemnity' [which many experts argue was the very first American 'film noir'] was co-written by Wilder and the literary genius, Raymond Chandler. So when RKO Pictures bought the rights to Chandler's hard-boiled detective novel 'Farewell My Lovely', Studio head Charles Koerner was determined to produce a serious adaptation of the book [following the pretty dire comedic 1942 version 'The Falcon Takes Over' with George Sanders']. Powell again tried his utmost to get the plum role of Philip Marlowe. Both the film's producer Adrian Scott and director Edward Dymtryk were strongly opposed to casting Powell in the lead role due to his association with light comedies and musicals. Fortunately, Koerner wanted Powell to sign a contract with RKO and star in their musicals. Powell shrewdly refused to sign unless RKO allowed him to take other kinds of roles. Koerner agreed and offered him the role as Philip Marlowe as the clincher. Although Powell was made to do a screen-test to appease Scott and Dymtryk, the rest [as they say] is history. Powell was sublime as the world-weary, downtrodden Marlowe. And the deft craftsmanship of both Scott and Dymtryk's use of flashbacks and voiceover resulted in probably the finest ever film adaptation of Chandler's mesmeric prose. The only real stumbling block was the film's original title [it was previewed in the U.S as 'Farewell My Lovely' - and combined with Powell's star billing was mistaken as yet another saccharine-sweet musical]. It had been re-titled as 'Murder My Sweet' for its British release [which was much more fitting of the newly created 'Film Noir' genre] so RKO did likewise when the film went on general release to American audiences in December 1944. It was a huge critical and financial success - and Powell's transformation to screen 'tough guy' was confirmed. [indeed, Koerner immediately dropped his plan for Powell to make musicals for RKO!] In the aftermath of the film's success - there has been a lengthy and ongoing debate over who was the best 'Marlowe'. It's said that Chandler himself preferred Bogart's portrayal of the ubiquitous detective in the 'Big Sleep' of 1946 - but later in his life Chandler reconsidered his view. 'Bogart, as always, was playing Bogart in the role. Powell WAS Marlowe' Chandler reflected. In fact, there are a number of very subtle and highly nuanced references to Marlowe's superior intelligence and erudition [eg: his love of books and chess] which Powell insisted should be kept in the film. Personally, I agree with Chandler. Powell to me is the best ever Marlowe. The clever blend of humour and cynicism was never better demonstrated than by the ex-crooner. Powell's career took off in a completely different and altogether more satisfying direction after 'Murder My Sweet'. His very next film is the excellent 'Johnny O'Clock' [1947] where Powell again showed his remarkable skills as the iron fist in the velvet glove. The cold-hearted yet lovable rogue.
watch him in The Blue Gardinia along with Richard, Conte, Ann Southern, and Anne Baxter. What a great movie especially on a rainy day!! Love all that Film Noir
I saw a biography on Mr. Burr once. It said it he was devoted to his mother, and when she died they had to sedate him for 3 days - he missed the funeral.
That is a great line that I am gonna remember n use by Dick Powell to Raymond Burr "You'd be surprised how little time I have to think about you at all"!!! Excellent!!!
Thank you for posting this outstanding example of (genuine) American film noir. All of the performers did justice to their roles in this endlessly interesting plot, but Raymond Burr's character...well...you be the judge!
Great writing, great acting across the board,great story line and plot, great directing! The whole enchilada folks in a truly fine crime and film noise drama.A classic.
Dick Powell always made the best film noir movies. This one is no exception. One consistent character feature in all his roles is he rarely smiled. He was all business.
This movie is SO good!!! Everyone's acting as superb and all the way through things happen that you don't think are going to happen.. and the relationships are so realistic! They really did a fine job on this one!
*Raymond Burr played the Sociopath role so believable. I wonder if this movie and the performances were nominated for or won any Awards, it certainly is an Award Worthy Movie/Performances.* Lizabeth Scott nailed her role too. All of these Actors did a Top Shelf Performance.
Raymond Burr almost stole the picture from Dick Powell & Lizabeth Scott. The ending with Powell & Jane Wyatt was magnificently etched in noir existentialism.
Gotta love Lizabeth Scott!!! My Mom's middle name was Lizabeth Grandma named her after her! I worked in a factory in 2000 ish era, n the nephew of Ms. Scott wrote to her and she sent me an autographed studio 8 X 10 photo from the 1940's that was awesome!!! Attagirl, Lizabeth Scott!!!!
Hmm, not sure "at least the first years" will have been very comfortable. And all that because of just a slip of the conscience or moral compass or whatever. While the man was giving all kind of signals before it happened he wasn't very pleased with his dull routine life. Imagine, just imagine she would have said: OK, not today, but yes... let's go to Latin America.... All that classic Film Noir would have never happened !
You got my vote about the "How many bullets can we add up to beat the last violent trash produced". I like the newest Jurassic movie, well done! But unbelievable. Glade to read a like minded opinion.
All apprentice actors, story line great and continuously unfolding and the music is everything setting the mood and anticipation of what is to come next!!♥️🍿
The husband had the look for the role he played. Perfect character . And of course, this is the rise and beginning of a career for Perry Mason. Smooth operater, just was a lil too confident on the end. 😢😢😢
Lizabeth Scott is my favorite actress. Especially playing sympathetic roles like this. Good also as the occasional villain, won't spoil by naming movie, or one where she played both roles. Unlike some other comments, I find her beautiful, her eyes, smile, voice. Probably Marilyn, Grace, and the other Liz would win most polls, but Scott is my choice.
I totally disagree with the DA saying he thinks Mona Stevens should not be the one in jail and instead thinks Forbes is at fault for the whole thing. Remember, Forbes went to her home as part of his job to see her about her insurance. He initially was being all business. But SHE kept pushing him. SHE wanted to flirt with him. SHE invited him out to the boat ride and for dinner. Oh, sure he should have told her he was married when she asked if he had anywhere to be. But she had no right making a move on a man that was just there at her home on business in the first place. And she had no reason to assume he was available. And after all, that's exactly what she was complaining about with McDonald when he was trying to make a move on her while he was there on business. Bottom line, SHE is the one that is really at fault for initiating the whole thing. SHE made the move,..SHE initiated the kiss in the bar! Forbes didn't initiate anything. Women are such fickled hypocrites. And SHE made the choice to commit cold blooded murder even though McDonald deserved it. Forbes situation was indeed justified self defense! That DA says Forbes could have called the police and it would have been avoided. Well, don't overlook that Mona could have also called the police on McDonald despite his threats to expose Forbes to his wife. Forbes ended up telling her anyway in the end. Great movie, Really makes you think about those scenarios.
It's difficult to see Raymond Burr as anyone other than Perry Mason, the brilliant lawyer who is a really good guy, but I have to admit he made a really creepy and loathsome bad guy. Another good old B/W movie.
Yes, he has played the creepy role in other movies and he's really good. That's to prove he is a good actor, can play all the roles and make it believable. Love Raymond Burr.
Solid, solid film--tightly written script, well-acted and directed. If you're looking at the comments to see if you want to view it, consider this an enthusiastic recommendation.
This is Lizabeth Scott's most sympathetic role. She's trying to do the right thing, be transparent, honest and. respectful toward all; however, fate intervenes.and chaos and violence are the results. Nonetheless, her performance and Dick Powell's shine.
Not a total happy ending, but that's the nature of Noir. "Everything could have been avoided with a simple phone call". Mona is the one who most likely had the Raw Deal, her boyfriend dies, the "the creepy guy" got what he deserved either way, but if he dies Mona has to pay. She sure is the one Noir suffering character. Anyways Great Noir. Thank you.
Mona should have called the police every time Mac showed up at or in her apartment uninvited. She was not dating him, and to her credit, she did tell him flat out that she wasn't interested in him. I do not understand why men who are told directly that they are not wanted, still impose their will upon a woman, like what you want is irrelevant, this is what I want. They never go away quietly, they just keep coming back until things end badly.
Thanks for that, 'such a sad outcome', 'Not a happy ending", who needs 'realism?', ..I would tell my wife about this, but we are not on speaking terms.
Dick Powell is an always safe bet for a good movie. At around the 11:00 mark & following, the woman with her hair-do and other features, reminds me of the actress Cybil Shepherd when she was young in the movie The last Picture Show, from 1971. And Raymond Burr. He sure knows how to play that role so very convincingly, which he had done in several other movies as well.
The 4 leads are very distinctive characters and convincing in this film. I like the subtle contrast of the two women - the wife isn’t too good to be true, she’s got some good lines herself, some cynicism and a brain, the femme fatale is unusually likeable and decent, trying to do the right thing. I can’t ever take my eyes off Lizabeth Scott in her movies, she had really strong screen presence and an unusual masculine quality, like a modern woman inserted into the 1940s. She’s the other Lauren Bacall. Raymond Burr made a great villain, despite anyone of my age knowing him too well as Perry Mason and Ironside. Dick Powell was glum at the start and after all that happened glum at the end. That’s noir for you. The son is still alive according to IMDB. It would be interesting to hear his memories of making this movie.
Maria Perez in reply above........ you are correct:- Richard Powell Jnr: Actor: 1950-2022 : died 71y.o: from cardiac arrest: In Los Angeles, California: He was the son of Dick Powell and June Allison: they were married from 1945 until Dick's death 1963:: ( June was his 3rd & last wife ). His father died from cancer age 58 y.o. June Allyson: 1917-2006: born to a French mother and Dutch father : after the death of Dick Powell, June went on to marry 2 more times: She died of respiratory failure age 88:.
Yes...not only is she beautiful, Jane possessed this wonderful maturity (that modulated voice and elegant diction) that Im sure the producers of "Father Knows Best" also perceived and needed for their show. She initially rejected the offer cause she was tired for playing mothers. She 's firm and in control without being cold and distant. You see that warm quality in her other mother role, Our Very Own (49). Not surprisingly, Wyatt's most unconvincing when playing a "bitch / villainess" in The Man Who Cheated Himself (1950). Ray gives me goose bumps...what a great "Heavy" was.
This is on par with Jean Pierre Melville's brilliant films. He is one of the creators of the film noir idiom but this rivals his work. From the brilliant lighting opening the film, which is consistently incredible throughout, to the great, sometimes stylized dialogue, never over done or over used, to the incredibly artistically beautiful use of Art Deco in the street, and downtown building scenes, to what is now known as mid-centurry modern in the home scenes, to the moral insight, and acting this is without a doubt the best American film noir I've ever watched.
I’m case you don’t know, Perry Mason was also in the original “GODZILLA” as well at the wheel chair bound detective, “IRONSIDE”. Great show!! Fantastic actor.
In a way, that wife is terribly middle class: OK; you"ve lied once, so lie another time against the police, but don't drag our good name into the mud, don't wash the dirty laundry in the open. I feel sorry for that chap: he had been giving hints enough that he was bored of the same weekly routine over and over again, almost to the minute. A good wife should have picked up these signals, and come up with something. Especially since he seems to have been a man who earned well, was in no financial problems. OK, maybe Latin America wasn't possible today, but if only she would have shared his dream, and said: fine, let's do just that during the holiday season. Or put the kid for two weeks with the grandparents. Today, life is even more complex, with double incomes and double worries at work etc.
@Benoit Vanhees the wife must have learned from her experience in this movie. In a few years she shows up as a model housewife and mom in “Father Knows Best” the popular tv series. (Humor intended).
@@judibiggerstaff8054 Ahhh yes, let's stop blaming the innocent poor helpless lost women, and be a "real" man.... Right.... Certainly Madame ? Some more porto ?
@@Retroscoop & @judibiggerstaff, Now both of you, stop bickering. They both were guilty of a few things not healthy for a marriage done right. But you have to give them some credit for trying.
After watching older well acted movies and great scripts. You can really understand how far Hollywood has gone down the rabbit hole with the garbage they put out today calling it entertainment. The classics so much better. A clue Hollywood stop making remakes of old classics. Please Stop.
I'm surprised that hat didn't come off during the boat ride, at about 18 minutes. At 48 minutes, the boyfriend in prison, Smiley, sure came across as an a-hole. If she's so particular about her men then ... never mind, I'll keep watching. 55 minutes: don't burn those comics; put them in a safe. 😄 Great writing, directing and acting. A few critiques on the ending. SPOILER ALERT. 1. Dick Powell's character should have gotten Smiley's gun when he got the jump on him at the front door. Smiley shouldn't have been in possession of the gun anyway. But that would have created a different ending. 2. I thought Mona was going to call the police and say she just shot a prowler. That would have solved her problem and I think made a better ending.
Yes, those are nice actions for pleasant ending, but remember it's a Noir there's not happy ending in Noir, one or more characters are going to get it, no matter. Sometimes even the main character gets it.😁
Film noir great Dick Powell (Murder, My Sweet) plays an ex-vet living the American dream with a beautiful home, loving wife (Jane Wyatt, Lost Horizon), wonderfud (Jimmy Hunt, Invaders From Mars) and a great job as an insurance executive. But Powell like many returning servicemen exhibits a restlessness experienced by many veterans, his penchant for excitement leads him an illicit affair with sexy bombshell (Lizabeth Scott, Too Late For Tears) that leads to much more than a guilty conscience a complicated web of intrigue, jealousy and murder. Considered by many as one of the greatest film noirs of all time, Pitfall features top-notch direction by the great Andre de Toth (Hidden Fear) and a great performance by Raymond Burr (TV's Perry Mason) as a corrupt private eye.
They sure picked a great cast. I, myself love Dick Powell's acting. He is one of the most versatile actors Hollywood had back in the days, after discovering him in 42nd St, 1932 film I try to catch every work his had done. Can't get enough! May he rest in peace.
Some old movies are so dorky in a lot of ways. Wearing a suit and top hat in a speedboat, yah, right! And who wears a suit night and day? The only time my husband wore a suit was to go to church once a week. Times have changed and it is so funny to watch these old movies. So funny
'A little fling'? You call betrayal of a betrothed a 'little fling'. What about his betrothal to GOD during the marrige ceremony? Were those all justifiable lies such as his justifiable homicide? He said he had to kill him. He could call the Police. So was it to try to prevent his tratorous lifestly ('Little Fling') he participated in from being know. IE To cover up his lies. Wasn'''t there a guy doing 20 years or so in Prison? What if an out of wedlock little bastard was born due to his fling? You can not saw them in half when both parants go their separate ways. He was lucky the Judge didn't have to award maintenance payments till his bastard was eighteen. As he said. He was at cracking point with all the lies he has had to say (had to say as he wants to hide the truth). But once he turns trator then every freebi he wants from his wife is basically obtainment by decption (Fraud).
"or3510," If you had heard of, were up to speed on, the stifling, restrictive Hays Code (i.e., censorship) you would have found something else to Comment on.
@@scvandy3129 Don't bother, they'll never get it. It's the same mindset that lets them believe that superheroes in the Fantastic Four can make themselves invisible, and throw fire.... but they're flummoxed about how one sibling is white and one is black.
