Paula

This little film, made by Columbia Studios, is very enjoyable!! All about a woman who is greedy and wants to get hold of a quarter of a million dollars and plans to rob a bank with the bank president himself, but then something goes awry and well........ you will just have to watch this great B-movie to find out the rest, but I assure you that it is a film that is very good!! Nice work by Glenn Ford and Janis Carter. This film is a bit like "Double Indemnity", only with a twist ending, and a lower budget. Oh, to have this released on DVD--I would be so happy. I just love these old black and white film noir type films from the 1940's and 1950's.

Mining engineer Glenn Ford (Mike) trucks into town and is befriended by barmaid Janis Carter (Paula). She's a bit too friendly isn't she? The clue to this film is in the title.

You know Janis Carter is up to something from early on. Always be suspicious of people who are too friendly. Carter is plotting with bank vice-president Barry Sullivan (Steve) and they are looking for a scapegoat. There are twists along the way and Glenn Ford is a sympathetic character to identify with as he begins to suspect and unravel what has been happening. Who gets all that money? Someone starts the film with nothing….and ends the film with nothing.

Well cast, with a reasonable original story, this Columbia B picture needed a better budget and screenplay. Several plot developments are signalled way before they occur, with some scenes being slackly directed. Nice performances help save some shortcomings with Janice Carter being a convincing femme fatale, and beautiful (it's a pity Columbia and RKO didn't utilize her more selectively)

Glen Ford is fine as the down on his luck stranger in town (who foolishly drinks too much) with nice support from Edger Buchannan and Barry Sullivan. As a little noir pic - it manages to hold attention for most of the duration. Award winning Cinematographer Burnett Guffey (From Here To Eternity '53) is probably the films best asset.

The Re-mastered Bluray disc is nice and clear but a little darkish, so, if you can get a descent DVD copy might be better.

What an opening! Mike's truck goes careening down a mountain road before pinballing through town. It's not only a riveting effect, but establishes Mike (Ford) as an honest workingman when he turns over his proceeds to the injured Jeff (Buchanan). Too bad he meets up with spider woman Paula (Carter) who spins a greedy web around the well- meaning patsy. As Paula, Carter is a powerful presence. She's got a way of acting that shows a lot of eyeball that's kind of scary. Actually, I think she's too strong, making her switch to the laid-back Mike not very believable. Their chemistry never really gels the way Paula's does with Steve (Sullivan). Unfortunately, that's a lack that undercuts the script's central twist.

Still, it's a solid noir thanks to the classic elements of the screenplay. Ford makes an interesting low-key fall guy. Not too many mining engineers turn up in noir, which I guess accounts for his occasional spiffy suits that look more like uptown Manhattan than temporary truck driver. Still, he's basically the classic working stiff looking for a job. Too bad he sees Paula's well-turned ankle first. Anyway, director Wallace films in journeyman style, except for that one inspired moment after the crash when Paula does a sharp gasping intake. It's a brief cameo shot whose only purpose is to connect Paula's sexuality with violence. For 1947, that's daring and Carter brings it off memorably. I guess it just goes to show how less can imply so much more in the imagination—a lesson contemporary film seems to have forgotten.

The movie may not be front rank noir, but it does have its moments.

I can't think of a movie in which he lost out, anyway.

Here he is a drifter who falls in with a treacherous woman. Initially, he offered work by her romantic interest, the king of film noir, Barry Sullivan. Someone once asked what movie star I felt I identified with most and it was Sullivan. The guy never gave a bad performance.

His girl here is played by Janis Carter. Her biography says that she was a hit in musicals on Broadway. I can see that. She has a boyishly cute look. (Ann Savage is hard to imagine in a musical. But look at Constance Towers, so fine in two Samuel Fuller movies and a Broadway darling.) Carter plays one evil woman! Wow, I would keep my distance from her! She's a waitress at a place called La Paloma when Ford meets her by she has high ambitions.

Edgar Buchanan is exceptionally touching as the miner who's willing to give engineer Ford a job. We can see he's kind of a loser but he is a very decent guy.

This is a tough little film. I recommend it highly.