I have never understood why anyone gave Edmond O'Brien the leading role in numerous movies, and why anyone would want to watch them. I saw this because I like Ella Raines (charming, adorable smile, a kind of brunette Veronica Lake) and because Vincent Price can be interestingly creepy. But O'Brien's presence is no help to this extremely obvious, plodding film. He is, as always, clumsy, sheepish, and self-deprecating, with the world's most insincere smile. He confesses past failures with girls like someone begging for pity, not like someone being honest and amused at himself. He is, in words of one syllable, a big dumb lug.
There is, of course, no chemistry between him and Raines, but her character is already murky because of her association with Price. She is his secretary, but is she or is she not his lover? The script clearly wants to avoid any impression that she is a Bad Girl, but she talks about having gone with Price to Paris, and she spends so much time in his house she practically lives there. Then there is the wheezy-voiced, loutish William Bendix, whose purpose on earth seems to be to make Edmond O'Brien look attractive.
Worst of all is the script--an obvious frame-up is immediately questioned by both O'Brien and the police. The former tries, with an extremely inept trick, to get the goods on Price, who isn't fooled for a minute. But it's all right because the cops are secretly still on the case, and have tricks of their own--including a doctor's report that is totally ridiculous and unbelievable but that shakes Price to his core. The whole thing has an air of nobody having tried very hard.
There is, of course, no chemistry between him and Raines, but her character is already murky because of her association with Price. She is his secretary, but is she or is she not his lover? The script clearly wants to avoid any impression that she is a Bad Girl, but she talks about having gone with Price to Paris, and she spends so much time in his house she practically lives there. Then there is the wheezy-voiced, loutish William Bendix, whose purpose on earth seems to be to make Edmond O'Brien look attractive.
Worst of all is the script--an obvious frame-up is immediately questioned by both O'Brien and the police. The former tries, with an extremely inept trick, to get the goods on Price, who isn't fooled for a minute. But it's all right because the cops are secretly still on the case, and have tricks of their own--including a doctor's report that is totally ridiculous and unbelievable but that shakes Price to his core. The whole thing has an air of nobody having tried very hard.