Review of I Wouldn't Be in Your Shoes (1948) by Trent R — 21 Jun 2010

Typical for a Woolrich adaptation, you have to buy into the central conceit to enjoy the resulting nightmare scenario here. In this instance, it is that a shoe print is the most damningly absolute form of evidence. The circumstances are pretty amusing, with a dancer protagonist couple and methodical police whose dialogue anticipates their incriminating behavior.

The direction is tight, not lingering too long on investigatory and court drama elements. Instead, devices of candy hearts, a Death Row phonograph, and persistent shoe emphasis are used to engage and heighten the pace. But the ending still felt forced and programmatic, though not unusually so. Still, this has a solid script and good central cast, managing to pull off some fun melodrama with an ironic twist.