Entgleist

Leave it to Barbara Stanwyck and John Lund to make this film noir soap opera work on every level. Stanwyck, pregnant and unwed, meets another woman and her husband on a train, a wealthy woman going home to see her family. When the train is wrecked and the woman and husband killed, Stanwyck assumes her identity since the man's parents have never met her nor even seen a photograph of her. The plot gets thicker once Stanwyck assumes the dead woman's identity.

The picture combines the suspense of a film noir with some soap opera touches but Barbara's strong performance makes it all work. John Lund, Jane Cowl, Phyllis Thaxter, Richard Denning and Lyle Bettger are all fine in support. It's all based on a Cornell Woolrich novel called "I Married A Dead Man" with the usual touches of irony found in his work.

It's one of director Mitchell Leisen's better films (he did "To Each His Own", "Hold Back the Dawn", and many other interesting films.) Absorbing and well worth watching. Not a well-known film but it's one of Stanwyck's best.

I really like this movie. OK, so the plot is unbelievable. When you've got good acting and excellent directing you can overlook it all. I especially like Lyle Bettger's portrayal of the heel boyfriend and blackmailer and Jane Cowl as the kindly mother in law. And what can you say about Barbara Stanwyck that hasn't been said - steady, compelling, convincing. She's the best.

There's one line in the movie that always makes me laugh. After Barbara has her baby, the doctor and nurse are talking about her progress and agree "if she continues to do well, she can see the baby in a couple of weeks". In our 21st century experience of instant parent/baby bonding, this seems so bizarre!

A case of mistake identity turns into a grand deception as a new mother tries to secure a better life for her child. The premise is similar to THE HOUSE ON TELEGRAPH HILL (minus the concentration camp angle, of course). A bit predictable and a bit far-fetched, but Stanwyck's performance sells it completely, and Leisen shows a dedication to the material, bringing what might have been a rather hokey women's weepie to life. The drama is compelling from start to finish, with measured pacing and excellent camera-work. The situation keeps ratcheting up to a tense climax. Lyle Bettger is pretty great as the slimy antagonist, as is Jane Cowl as the benevolent grand dame of the household (John Lund once again comes off rather bland). If the ending seems a bit too convenient, at least it provides for a really satisfying callback.

No Man of Her Own is directed by Mitchell Leisen and adapted to screenplay by Sally Benson and Catherine Turney from the novel "I Married a Dead Man" written by William Irish (Cornell Woolrich. It stars Barbara Stanwyck, John Lund, Jane Cowl, Henry O'Neill, Phyllis Thaxter, Richard Denning and Lyle Bettger.

Callously jilted by the man who has made her pregnant, Helen Ferguson (Stanwyck) survives a train crash and is mistaken for another woman, Patrice Harkness (Thaxter), who was killed in the crash. The woman, who she had befriended on the train, was also pregnant and recently married to a man who also died in the crash (Denning as Hugh Harkness). The rich Harkness in-laws, having never met Patrice, take who they think is Patrice into their home and even though Helen is tormented by her deceit, she spies an opportunity to give her child a grand life. But will she be found out? Will her past come to light with dire consequences?.

Film noir styles meets melodramatic verve in what is still a riveting picture, even if the implausibility of it all is hard to swallow. Stanwyck gives it the whole shebang, carrying the film on her shoulders as she hits all the right emotive beats of a double characterisation that brings guilt, shame and conflict of interests. Lund is sadly bland as the Harkness sibling love interest, but the rest of the cast do sterling work, notably Cowl as the Harkness matriarch. Cowl would pass away the year of the film's release.

From a film noir perspective it's disappointing that the filmic finale is different to that of Woolrich's novel. However, the story of a destitute unmarried woman thrown a bone by the vagaries of fate is in true noir fashions - as is the turn of events when things go dark in the last third as the past comes knocking at the door of settled bliss in the form of Bettger's oily Stephen Morley. A love story, a survivalist story, one of blackmail, deceit and murder, lots going on in a hugely enjoyable entertainment. 8/10

Barbara Stanwyck plays Helen Ferguson--pregnant and penniless deserted by her ex Steve (Lyle Bettger). On a train she meets Patrice Harkness (Phyllis Thaxter) and her husband Hugh (Richard Denning). Patrice is also pregnant and going to see Hugh's parents who have never seen her before. Then the train crashes. Patrice and Hugh are killed and everybody mistakes Helen for Patrice. She goes along with it for her child. Then her ex shows up in town with blackmail on his mind.

Based on the excellent novel "I Married A Dead Man" by Cornell Woolrich. Now the plot is more than a little ridiculous but this movie (like the novel) is so beautifully done you don't notice. It's shot in beautiful black and white (which fits the mood) and has good acting--especially by Stanwyck. Technically she's too old for the role (she was 45 when she played this) but she's so good that you overlook it. She has a GREAT scene when she realizes what she has to do to get rid of Steve. The look on her face was perfect! When I first saw this in a revival theatre the audience laughed and applauded when that scene came on. The movie looks great with beautiful settings. Also fun to see Thaxter and Denning early in their careers. A very good unsung film noir. Recommended.

Do NOT see the 1996 redo movie called "Mrs. Winterbourne". They turn it into an (unfunny) comedy!