Last night I watched this film for the second time, and oddly enough my reaction was much different than after my first viewing several years ago.
There are two remarkable actors in this film. Laird Cregar -- whom I had never heard of when I first viewed the film -- is good here, but not brilliant as I had felt after the first showing. This movie belongs to him. And, so that the heavy could play a romantic, yet murderous part, he quickly lost 100 pounds before making the film, and died as a result of doing so...before the film was released!
The other remarkable performance in this film is by Linda Darnell...in my opinion, remarkably bad. I had just seen her the previous night opposite Tyrone Power, and she was quite good. But here, stinko!
Most disappointing for me is the small amount of on-screen time that George Sanders had...and he's the reason I watched the film to begin with. His role as a sort of police-psychologist is important...but all to brief.
The film is not unlike "Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde". Here, Cregar plays a composer who has amnesia attacks during which he often kills someone. A wonderful girl is in love with him, but he falls for a cheap pop singer who only wants to use him. Of course, we all know where this is going. And, indeed, he does kill Darnell...and the viewer is glad of it. Cregar is able to gain sympathy while playing a serial murderer! I give him credit for that.
The fire scene at the end of the film is done remarkably well.
First time around I gave this film a solid 7...this time only a 6. Perhaps had George Sanders' part been more extensive I would have rated it higher.
There are two remarkable actors in this film. Laird Cregar -- whom I had never heard of when I first viewed the film -- is good here, but not brilliant as I had felt after the first showing. This movie belongs to him. And, so that the heavy could play a romantic, yet murderous part, he quickly lost 100 pounds before making the film, and died as a result of doing so...before the film was released!
The other remarkable performance in this film is by Linda Darnell...in my opinion, remarkably bad. I had just seen her the previous night opposite Tyrone Power, and she was quite good. But here, stinko!
Most disappointing for me is the small amount of on-screen time that George Sanders had...and he's the reason I watched the film to begin with. His role as a sort of police-psychologist is important...but all to brief.
The film is not unlike "Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde". Here, Cregar plays a composer who has amnesia attacks during which he often kills someone. A wonderful girl is in love with him, but he falls for a cheap pop singer who only wants to use him. Of course, we all know where this is going. And, indeed, he does kill Darnell...and the viewer is glad of it. Cregar is able to gain sympathy while playing a serial murderer! I give him credit for that.
The fire scene at the end of the film is done remarkably well.
First time around I gave this film a solid 7...this time only a 6. Perhaps had George Sanders' part been more extensive I would have rated it higher.