I've watched "Cornered" several times, having seen Dick Powell in most of his pre-noir performances as an upscale Kenny Baker. My admiration for the creativity, intrigue, mystery, acting, direction, and dialog is marred only by the unnecessarily over-the-top impatient, remorselessly humorless, vengeful and unnaturally adolescent portrayal of LT Gerard. It's SO over the top that it distracts from the plot and character to the detriment of a very well-structured storyline, direction and other actors' portrayals. I very much "get" fatally-disillusioned dark characters in noir ... but IMO this performance 'detracts' rather than 'intrigues.' This distraction is what makes me drop a 9-10 rating to a 7 overall. Even the brief PTSD-like exchange on the subway platform with the "Mme Jarnac" character doesn't fully
Clearly, the acting "star" of the piece is Walter Slezak (Incza) ... a sleazy, double-dealing weasel in a badly tailored suit who knows a little too much while claiming to know too little. His character is the glue that keeps the plot on track, even as it spirals up into increasing complexity.
From the female characters, I was impressed most by the slinky Sra Camargo (Nina Vale) who slithered in and out of each scene with a poise and self-assurance of one who knows her effect on men. She has a little of Gale Sondergaard's exotic, amoral seductiveness and she exploits those qualities to the max.
Overall, the film is VERY watchable, very noir and nearly unpredictable to the very end. Overall, I highly recommend this to any viewer who loves noir and who loves Dick Powell's reincarnation into the hard-boiled character which he excelled at portraying.
Clearly, the acting "star" of the piece is Walter Slezak (Incza) ... a sleazy, double-dealing weasel in a badly tailored suit who knows a little too much while claiming to know too little. His character is the glue that keeps the plot on track, even as it spirals up into increasing complexity.
From the female characters, I was impressed most by the slinky Sra Camargo (Nina Vale) who slithered in and out of each scene with a poise and self-assurance of one who knows her effect on men. She has a little of Gale Sondergaard's exotic, amoral seductiveness and she exploits those qualities to the max.
Overall, the film is VERY watchable, very noir and nearly unpredictable to the very end. Overall, I highly recommend this to any viewer who loves noir and who loves Dick Powell's reincarnation into the hard-boiled character which he excelled at portraying.