Meurtres à l'Empire State Building

I'm still not entirely sure why this film made such an impression on me. Perhaps I'm just a bit of a sucker for film noir...

Karel's mash-up mockumentary of clips from a host of classical Hollywood films and "interviews" with actors (in character) is used to tell a very noir'ish story of forbidden love, gangsters, undercover cops and lots and lots of murders.

It's not a hugely surprising plot, almost cliché, but there's something about the blending of old clips and "interviews" that just plain works.

I also think the decision to keep it to a fairly brief 88 minutes (well, the version I saw was actually 82 minutes, incl. credits) was the right one. Any longer and the clichés would probably have gotten too thick.

I found this film really interesting for a lot of reasons. It opened my eyes to parts of Hollywood I'd never even thought about before. The interviews are excellent, charming, humorous and really well-performed by some of the best veteran actors around today. The one thing that really plucked at my heart strings was this was the last notable performance from Kirk Douglas. I always loved his films and I find it fitting that his last appearance on screen is in a tribute to the Golden Age of Hollywood. If I rewind his career and watch everything up to now, it feels like coming full circle for this acting giant! Long may he live!!

When I saw this on Aussie TV (ABC) one Sunday night I was surprised to see it had not appeared on this site and it took me a while to get the details to post it here, but it is well worthwhile because it is a fine little TV vignette to film Noir and a great chance to see some fine old actors and Cyd Charisse in her final screen appearance, along with Kirk Douglas in a strong non-speaking role and the rest of these Hollywood legends. It has echoes of Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid but without the humour. Well worth seeing as a curiosity piece and to enjoy some grand old film clips from the golden years of yore!!!

I would give this an 8 out of 10