Review of In a Lonely Place (1950) by Robert B — 02 Oct 2004

[font=Arial] Bogart plays Dixon Steele, a Hollywood writer burnt-out in more ways than one. A girl is murdered, and Steele is the last one who saw her alive. Did Steele kill her? If he didn't, who did? For most of the movie, Steele is the prime suspect, until his neighbor comes forward to fake an alibi. This neighbor happens to be beautiful, with no visible means of financial support, and attracted to Steele.

While the murder investigation plays through their lives, Steele and his neighbor, Laurel Gray, played by Gloria Grahame in a bravura performance, fall in love. But, the two threads - the courtship and the murder - are inextricably tied. Steele has a violent past, and a disposition to violence. We are never told why - perhaps his military service - in one of the film's few weak moments. As the thread of the murder is tied up with the confession of the boyfriend, the thread of the lovers continues to unravel, until in the film's climax, their relationship disintegrates before our eyes because of Steele's temper.

It has been suggested elsewhere this movie is a profile of the artistic temperament, or a study of anger management. Both statements are true. It is also a case study of domestic violence, and how violent impulses undermine a relationship, even viable relationships. Steele's violence ultimately becomes the single dominant emotion in this film: the police suspect him of murder because of his history; he nearly beats a stranger to death on little provocation; he stalks and attempts to detain his lover when she threatens to leave. Bogart as the abuser and Grahame as the abused are excellent in their roles. Ultimately, it becomes secondary whether Steele killed the hatcheck girl; he is violent, abusive, aggressive, inner-directed, and a source of almost constant fear. Bogart can make gangsters lovable, but the energy of his performance here is in making Steele [u][i]un[/i][/u]lovable.

This is an excellent movie, a solid 8 out of 10. The dialog is crisp, especially in the early parts. Bogart and Grahame have real screen chemistry. The ending is wonderful, very sad, and very understandable given the events we've just witnessed. The last line of the film is unforgettable, and speaks volumes on the sadness of failed relationships. [/font].