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A classic noir
One of the greatest of all noirs, revolving around a long flashback telling us what happened to turn Robert Mitchum into the shady, withdrawn gas station owner now being dragged back into a murky world of cross and double-cross.
Tourneur's control of the complex narrative is absolute from the start, where a tracking shot drags us straight into the heart of the matter. From there, it's every man for himeslf, as Kirk Douglas tries everything to get the girl he truly deserves, while Mitchum has to work out a way to live without her.
With a better femme fatale than Jane Wyman, this would have been just about the perfect thriller. As it is, it's damned good.
baby, i don't care
regarded by many as one of the best, if not THE best, film noir ever. Mitchum plays the fallguy trying to rebuild his life but gets entangled by the femme fatale on the run from smartass kirk douglas, in only his second film. mitchum's caught in the eternal conundrum - does he stay with the smalltown good girl or follow the sophisticated and savvy urban minx to a whole world of trouble. for trivia fans: the movie begins in the reallife bridgeport, but it's not the same bridgeport where mitchum was born. it was however the same bridgeport where mitchum walked away from the wreckage of a small plane after a crash. top film and an absolute must-see for anyone who gets any pleasure from the textural qualities of film noir. and if you don't know film noir, this is the perfect place ...
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