Review of In a Lonely Place (1950) by Adam R — 05 Jul 2014

This is not one of Humphrey Bogart's better known films but it has grown considerably in reputation since its initial release and is now considered a classic. A friend recommended it. It's not perfect though it's definitely one of the better Bogat performances I've watched.

I don't like the man much, this was cool though. Martha Stewart, as Mildred Atkinson, is a revelation. She's on screen for about ten minutes before she's murdered but she's an attractive ball of energy.

The mystery surrounding her murder is supposedly the centre of the film but the plot quickly moves elsewhere, taking shots at Hollywood here, digging deep in the psyche of men's loneliness there. Proper melodrama.

I haven't read the book but supposedly Nicholas Ray and his scriptwriters took liberties with the original novel by Dorothy B. Hughes and actually improved on it. I haven't read the novel, I don't know if they improved it, but I know they changed a lot of things, including the end twist.

The film was released in 1950, same year as All About Eve and Sunset Boulevard. A bit like releasing an album in 1966. So its nowhere near those two masterpieces but I'm glad I've watched it. My copy includes a 20 minute retrospective documentary presented by Curtis Hanson which is infomative.