In a Lonely Place
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Movie Reviews of In a Lonely Place
Movie Review: Excellent noir AND Bogart
Summary: 5 Stars
Excellent firm noir entry starring Humphrey Bogart in one of his best performances. Bogie plays Dixon Steele, a screenwriter trying to make a comeback after the war - and after he's distanced himself from the studio heads with his erratic and violent behavior. He finally gets a break and is asked to adapt a romance novel for the screen; he hates the book and tells off the producer, slugging him. A hatcheck girl (played by Martha Stewart) at Bogie's club hangout offers to help Bogart out with the book and goes home with him. Later Stewart is found dead and Bogie is the prime suspect. But neighbor Gloria Grahame, who falls in love with Bogie, has seen Stewart leave his place alone the night she was killed - yet she's also witnessed his violent tantrums and soon doesn't know what to think. And that's the beauty of the picture as director Nicholas Ray develops the story so that we, the audience, soon don't know what to think, either. Our emotions sway back and forth over Bogart's guilt right to the end. The script is taut and powerful, and all the principal actors put in excellent performances. It's a top-notch movie, definitely worth a watch.Movie Review: Very good Noir
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a good film. We see the "noir" side of a charming, talented screen writer, who apparently is suffering from what we might today label post traumatic stress disorder. His propensity for violent outbursts are tempered by acts of unexpected generosity. No wonder the beautiful blond neighbor finds him "interesting" and then falls completely in love with him.
Bogart and Grahame are a great match. Bogart is wonderful, as always and Grahame certainly holds her own with him. In many ways I found the movie was more about her dilemma than his. She is the one who has to make the hard decisions. She is smart, independent and probably lost and confused enough herself to fall for such a man. There is great on screen chemistry. I found the scene at the piano bar where the two of them were obviously enjoying each other, mostly unscripted, quite charming.
The plot is good. The direction is tight and effective. All of the supporting actors do very good jobs. It's a flawless piece of period movie style. I'm not a huge fan of all films noirs but this is a very good one.
Movie Review: I Lived a Few Weeks While You Loved Me
Summary: 5 Stars
Humphrey Bogart is no hero here. He's a murder suspect. He's alcoholic, violently angry, frustrated, isolated . . . intelligent, fiercely loyal, proud, and longing for connection. This is perhaps his most nuanced, authentic performance, in one of his finest films from a purely artistic point of view. The plot centers around the possibility that he might, in a drunken rage, have killed a hat check girl he took home from a bar. Gloria Grahame plays an attractive neighbor who takes an interest. It's hard to say more without saying too much. You just have to watch it. The acting, script and direction are first-rate while the visual style serves the story effectively. Bogart's own company produced the film, freeing it from the constraints of a studio production. It was and remains unconventional. Not a success in its day or among his most popularly revived films, In a Lonely Place's stature has grown over the years. It stands as a finely-made and engrossing testament to Bogart's commitment to his art. Highly recommended.
Movie Review: Bogart At His Best
Summary: 5 Stars
IN A LONELY PLACE (1950) may not be one of Humphrey Bogart's better known films, but it certainly contains one of his finest performances.
Bogart plays a Hollywood screenwriter with a quick, often violent temper, who becomes a key suspect when a star-struck hatcheck girl is found murdered. She had been in Bogie's apartment earlier in the evening, but had departed, as witnessed by neighbor Gloria Grahame.
A romance develops between Bogart and Grahame, but the fact that he is still under suspicion slowly decimates the relationship, bringing the writer's darkest side to the forefront.
Frank Lovejoy co-stars as the investigating detective, an old friend of Bogart. Nicholas Ray directed.
The DVD contains a retrospective short on the film, featuring director Curtis Hanson.
© Michael B. Druxman
Movie Review: NICHOLAS RAY, OPUS 4
Summary: 5 Stars
***** 1950. Loosely based on Dorothy B. Hughes's In a Lonely Place (Femmes Fatales : Women Write Pulp), this film was directed by Nicholas Ray. A screenwriter, violent by nature, is suspected to have murdered a young woman he received in his apartment. Soon, his new girl-friend doesn't know anymore whether he's guilty or not. Superb movie about Hollywood and exceptional performance of the couple Humphrey Bogart-Gloria Grahame. Among the bonus, there is an interesting featurette which allows director Curtis Hanson to give some valuable thoughts about this movie which is a true masterpiece. Indispensable.