The Woman in the Window (MGM Film Noir)
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Movie Reviews of The Woman in the Window (MGM Film Noir)
Movie Review: DVD?
Summary: 5 Stars
Why isn't this classic on DVD? Joan Bennett has never been lovelier. Great film - DVD whomever?Movie Review: Fritz Lang intrigue with a twist - rightly 4 1/2 stars
Summary: 4 Stars
The affable Edward G. Robinson plays criminal psychology professor Richard Wanley in "The Woman in the Window". After spiriting his wife and children away on vacation he goes to his club to spend time with his friends, one of whom being D.A. Lalor played by the angular Raymond Massey.
After they depart, Robinson becomes enraptured with a portrait of a beautiful young woman displayed in the window of an art gallery next to the club. Robinson is startled when he sees a face reflected in the window of the woman in the portrait. After his initial shock, Robinson engages the gal Alice Reed played by Joan Bennett in converstaion. They eventually wind up in her apartment for an innocent nightcap. Quite suddenly and unexpectedly an agitated unknown man bursts into Bennett's apartment and in a jealous rage starts to choke the life out of Robinson. Protecting himself, Robinson grabs a pair of scissors and stabs the man in the back killing him.
Bennett and Robinson are conflicted as to what to do and ultimately decide to cover up the crime and move the body to a distant location. Since they are both amateurs, very soon evidence starts to mount as the body is quickly found. It turns out that the gentleman was a millionaire who had been missing since arriving in New York's Penn Station. Massey, not suspecting Robinson involves him in the investigation. Robinson starts getting panicky when the noose starts tightening around his neck. Things really start going awry when Dan Duryea, a bodyguard of the millionaire arrives at Bennett's pad threatening extortion.
Lang creates an intense sense of fear, dread and intrigue as his plot evolves greatly aided by nice acting performances by a solid ensemble. Lang's finale is a bit of a cop out but didn't spoil the overall fine quality of the flick.
Movie Review: Forget the ending and enjoy the film
Summary: 4 Stars
Yes, the ending does look like it is tacked on and it does spoil a wonderful piece of film noir. The film does not mince words. One drink, one dalliance and you are on the way to the electric chair. There is one straight and narrow and you'd better not cross that line. Edward G. Robinson does cross that line and pays the penalty.The direction by Fritz Lang is sometimes intrusive but he can keep a story going and Robinson's descent from flirting with another woman to murderer is absorbing.
The film is occasionally clunky, but it works well enough to be entered into the honor roll of film noir. The later reworking of Scarlet Street with the same cast works better, but this film has a lot going for it - apart from the ending.
Movie Review: Classic old film starring Joan Bennett & Edward G. Robinson
Summary: 5 Stars
Robinson plays a criminology professor who sees his wife and kids off at Grand Central station while he continues to reside in Manhattan. After hours at his club with his good friends, the psychiatrist and the district attorney, the three men agree that they are too old for any adventures, particularly amorous ones. On the way home Robinson pauses in front of an enticing portrait of Joan Bennett and runs into the woman herself. Flirtatious but innocent banter ensues, and the two spend a lovely evening which ends, oddly enough, with Robinson in Bennett's apartment. He's just about to open some champagne when Bennett's lover comes in raging. The rest of the film involves Bennett and Robinson rather incredibly dodging complicity and association with the man, financier Claude Mazard, as Robinson has the even more harrowing experience of learning that his great friend the district attorney is investigating Claude Mazard's murder! This is classic escapist film noir entertainment, beautifully shot with great directing and fun acting. And I liked the ending too.Movie Review: Gripping melodrama marred by co-out ending
Summary: 4 Stars
Robinson and Bennett are terrific in the Fritz Lang movie, but the cop-out ending shatters what could have been among the best of the film noir genre ever.