Review of Obsession (1943) by Joel K — 25 Feb 2011
Visconti's version of James M. Cain's The Postman Always Rings Twice preceded the (first) Hollywood version by about 3 years, but they seem worlds different. The Italian version takes its cues from neorealism (although neorealism like this feels less real and more staged these days) whereas the Hollywood movie is definitely noir.
As such, the crime of John Garfield & Lana Turner seems much more pre-meditated than that of Clara Calamai & Massimo Girotti (which in fact happens off-screen, unless I was dozing off). The Italians are more swept up by passion (as opposed to lust) and seem less aware of the financial incentives of the crime, making their fate somehow more romantic/traumatic than existential/traumatic.
This review of Obsession (1943) was written by Joel K on 25 Feb 2011.
Obsession has generally received very positive reviews.
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