Posted by Steve-O
What a place. I can feel the rats on the wall.
1944 was a hell of a year for film noir. Really a turning point. The year saw the releases of Laura, Double Indemnity and Murder, My Sweet. The trio would go on to influence the entire body of film noir to come.
One film from that year is unfortunately forgotten today by most is the amazing Phantom Lady directed by Robert Siodmak. Filled with plot holes and unlikely occurrences, the Phantom Lady succeeds because of Siodmak's knack for being able to create a creepy and gloomy nightmare-like atmosphere. Siodmak was just a few years into his Hollywood movie making and in 1944 he had three dark films released that year – Phantom Lady, the period-noir The Suspect and a suspense film with the incredibly misleading title of Christmas Holiday. During the 40s, Siodmak would go on to refine his skills at horror and suspense when he helmed the director's chair for Criss Cross, Cry of the City and the gothic Spiral Staircase.
Siodmak takes Cornell Woolrich's novel (written as William Irish) and strips it of some of it's nerve-racking suspense. Instead he paints a picture of a night time world that is very different from the day – a dangerous place to venture out into alone.
The story by Woolrich – who constantly reminds us life is absurd and meaningless – appears to be about unhappily married Scott Henderson. Henderson (Alan Curtis) heads off to a bar after an argument with his wife on their wedding anniversary. While nursing a drink he starts up chatting it up with a woman who would later be known as the “phantom lady”. Eventually, Henderson convinces the nameless woman to use his wife's ticket for a musical review. The two head off in a cab to the show. At the show, the two notice that Henderson's date has the same outrageous hat as the lead singer. Neither of the woman are happy that their exclusive hat is being worn by someone else. The two split after the show and Henderson heads home.
Meanwhile back at Henderson's apartment his wife has been found brutally murdered. When he returns he finds coppers in his living room and is informed bluntly about his wife's death. Suspecting the husband – who has a motive and no alibi – the police question him like he's the number one suspect. Henderson can't prove his innocence and is quickly locked up.
The story now shifts to “Kansas” - played nicely by Ella Raines. With her boss behind bars, the plucky secretary must play detective and find out who really killed Henderson's wife. Things don't go easily for her. Every one that saw her boss the night of the killing now have clammed up. Worst of all, the “phantom lady” cannot be found.
Kansas haunts the bar that Henderson spent the night in – eventually spooking out the bartender. Later the nervous man is killed in an accident. That leaves Kansas to begin investigating the two others that should remember him from the night: the cab driver and the Latin American singer who noticed the woman was wearing the same hat as hers.
With only the help of a police detective (Thomas Gomez) Kansas' 
These few scenes are amazing - both sexy and repulsive. Raines is so self confidant playing the tramp groupie and Cook is wonderfully creepy. Late that night they end up in a scary, apparently drug infested, after-hours jazz club. You can almost smell the sweat and booze when they enter the place. Cliff puts on a show.
Kansas continues to play hot-to-trot for Cliff when she's clearly repulsed by him. Things do not go when when they get to the drummers little room. He makes the moves on Kansas – who must still pretend to be interested – while at the same time spilling the beans. He admits that he was paid to forget Henderson and the phantom lady. Cliff finds out Kansas is working for the police and she barely escapes with her life. Once in saftey, Kansas realizes she has finally gotten the first piece of evidence that there is a conspiracy against Henderson.
There's more to the story following but to tell it would give away the end – even though it's not that hard to figure out “who-done-it”.
If you're looking for the movie finding it on DVD may be a challenge but it does air occasionally on Turner Classic Movies. The film's not available on a Region 1 DVD but there is a decent French DVD release out there.
The Phantom Lady may not have the notoriety of other 1944 noirs but most noir film buffs know that this is one of the best.
2 comments:
I recently caught up with this film on videotape, and loved it as you did. There's a wonderful, meaty analysis of the film that I found eye-opening in Edward Dimendberg's book on film noir.
Ella Raines was terrific in this role. To bad she died so young. The scene where Elisa Cook plays that crazy drum solo is fantastic. I always loved this film- it showed you the posh lifestyles and then took you to the seedy low-life side. Amazing! Great review...
Post a Comment