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| Tookey's Review |
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| Pro Reviews |
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| Mixed Reviews |
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| Anti Reviews |
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| Trailer |
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| Cast |
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| Released: |
1944 |
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| Genre: |
CRIME
ROMANCE
THRILLER
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| Origin: |
US |
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| Length: |
107 |
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A femme fatale (Barbara Stanwyck, pictured left) lures an insurance agent (Fred MacMurray, pictured right) into murder.
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Reviewed by Chris Tookey
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| Billy Wilder's superb, clinically detached, suspenseful thriller has been much imitated (Body Heat is one example), but never surpassed. The performances of Fred MacMurray, Barbara Stanwyck and Edward G. Robinson are three-dimensional, with the two men being cast against type (MacMurray was usually a light comedian, while Robinson was normally the criminal). The script, based on a James M. Cain novel, is an inspired collaboration by Billy Wilder and Raymond Chandler. |
| In the original ending shot by Wilder, MacMurray was executed in the gas chamber in San Quentin. Thought to be too shocking, the scenes were cut from the release print - although Wilder claims they were among the best he ever directed. John Seitz's film noir cinematography and Miklos Rosza's score were both Oscar-nominated. |
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, Fred MacMurray 