Review of The Reckless Moment (1949) by Nate W — 22 Jul 2012

Part "Mildred Pierce", part "Double Indemnity", part something else altogether, Max Ophuls' "The Reckless Moment" is a singular and atypical - if not particularly exceptional - noir outing that places more emphasis on sympathizing with victims of circumstance than by relishing in criminals getting their comeuppance.

An accidental 'murder', possibly the titular reckless moment, goes from bad to worse for housewife Lucia Harper (the wonderful Joan Bennett) when she moves the body and ditches the weapon in order to protect her daughter who was the actual assailant.

This lapse in judgment turns out to be the real reckless moment, as it pins her down at the mercy of a faceless blackmailer who holds evidence ransom via an agent played by James Mason. In an unusual turn for this type of film, the blackmailer's agent feels for and becomes attracted to Lucia, leading to strange emotional tensions that Mason and Bennett perform beautifully.

An ultimately ironic and melodramatic take on a usually dark genre.