The Pretender

A genuine bottom of the barrel sleeper. Sure, the budget doesn't exceed about a dollar-fifty, especially for the bare-bones sets. But wisely, most of that was earmarked for two giants of classic noir— actor Dekker and photographer Alton. Add to that a pretty tight little screenplay, and we get a riveting foray into a noirish web of paranoia and guilt, heightened by Dekker's commanding performance and Alton's expressionist lighting.

Note, for example, how economically stockbroker Holden's (Dekker) devious character is conveyed in the opening scene. He's dug a hole and now must scheme his way out, but soon that scheming will envelop him in odd ways, through either sheer bad luck or the proverbial hand of noirish fate. What a marvelously dominating turn by Dekker as the doomed fortune hunter. He always brought an icy intelligence to his roles and it's on effective display here.

Note also how Alton's lighting gets progressively more oppressive as the web tightens. Those pin lights isolating Holden's face are perfect visual correlates of the mounting paranoia. And catch that final grim figure, eating out of a suitcase in an unlit bedroom, the dark forces at last closing in. Noir doesn't get much more expressive than this.

Something should also be said about Alan Carney's wonderfully sinister nightclub owner. Note how quickly he moves from jovial host to fierce gangster once Holden broaches his murderous proposition. At the same time, that screeching giggle is enough to cause an audience run on earmuffs. The rotund Carney's an unusual presence, to say the least. Too bad that other expert grotesque, Charles Middleton, is in a rather conventional butler role, minus way too much screen time. His graveyard voice is always a shuddery treat, and a big reason to catch those old Flash Gordon serials.

Director Wilder may have been the lesser half of the two director brothers, but a look at his production credits shows a certain flair for low-budget quality both here and elsewhere— The Great Flamarion (1945), Strange Impersonation (1946), Three Steps North (1951)-- all contain redeeming virtues, even if in a minor key.

All in all, The Pretender remains a sleeper on several interesting levels-- another pleasant surprise at even this most obscure level of 40's movie-making.

(In passing-- viewers might question the eerie, yet cheesy, presence of the theremin sound effect in what's already an eerie movie. Also, there're some distractive problems with Holden's moustache. Check out the occasional color and shape shifts for no apparent reason. Maybe someone in make-up was near-sighted.)

Dodgy financial swindler Albert Dekker (Holden) wants to get rid of the fiancé of wealthy Catherine Craig (Claire) so that he can step in and bag himself a fortune. He's not sure who the intended groom is but approaches nightclub owner and gangster Alan Carney (Victor) to take him out whoever he may be. Problems begin when Craig dumps her intended and agrees to marry Dekker in a quick wedding that gets plastered over the newspapers. The hit-man now knows who to go for – Dekker has unintentionally taken out a hit on himself! He tries to put things right with Carney but things get worse and we watch as he spends the rest of the film in total paranoia. Who's coming after him? When's it going to happen? How is it going to happen?

This film started a little slow but once the premise has been set up, the film gets a purpose and we watch to see how things will pan out. The film keeps you guessing and Dekker is good in the lead role. In real life, Dekker's death is a fascinating mystery that I recommend you read up on. It goes beyond auto-erotic asphyxiation as suggested. Someone seriously didn't like him! No S&M in this film, though, so you'll be disappointed if that's what you are watching for.

THE PRETENDER is a neat little film noir with a high concept and atmospheric execution. It was directed by W. Lee Wilder, the lesser-known brother of Billy, and has a great little story that I haven't seen done before. The main character, as played by Albert Dekker, is a banker with the debts mounting up, so he somewhat cheekily uses the funds of a rich woman he knows in order to pay them off.

Dekker isn't happy with the situation so decides to move closer to the woman by paying a gangster to have her lover bumped off, thus paving the way for him. In the end, though, the woman falls for Dekker himself, so his next job is to call off the hit lest he himself is mistaken for the victim. At this point, things get complicated.

A great sense of foreboding and claustrophobia propels THE PRETENDER, which makes it stand out a little from the rest. The copious use of the Theremin machine on the soundtrack is a lovely touch. The cast is undistinguished but Dekker is believable as the thoroughly unlikeable protagonist. There's also a great little role for the delightfully sinister Charles Middleton, a former Ming the Merciless. The highlight of the movie is undoubtedly the climax, which is fantastic stuff.

A banker named Kenneth Holden (Albert Dekker) has been stealing funds from an estate and wants to marry the heiress named Claire (Catherine Craig) to basically keep the cashflow going. However, she has a fiancé. Holden orders a hit on him, simply saying to kill the guy the heiress is with. However (part 2), in short order, Claire breaks up with her fiancé and begins seeing Holden. But wait a minute, wasn't there something about a hit...?

There's another movie or two like this I've seen with the same general premise, but I can't remember the names. For all I know, maybe this predates them. I will say that for the first 2/3 of the movie, it's somewhat slow...but man does it pick up in the last 1/3! It gets really interesting and kinda twisty. A good plot gets better and better, anchored by Dekker's even-keeledness, never going overboard even when things got really bad.

In the end, I enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I would. I'd see it again someday, in fact!

P.S. Recognize the second butler? It's Charles Middleton, probably most famous for playing Ming the Merciless. :)

Kenneth Holden (Albert Dekker) is a sleazy banker who has been misusing the funds of an heiress in order to cover his losses in the stock market. He owes nearly $100,000 and his plan is to hide it by marrying the heiress. But Claire informs him that she's already engaged...so Holden arranges for the boyfriend to have an 'accident'. However, Claire unexpectedly changes her mind and insists that Holden marry her. So he does and then tries to cancel the contract...as, after all, the contract was to kill Claire's fiancé...and the killer might just think that's Holden. But this goes amok when the man behind arranging the 'accident' is murdered...and he's unable to stop the contract! Holden is at his wits end...realizing that some unknown killer might just be waiting for him!

This is an exciting and sleazy movie...and I mean sleazy in the best possible way! It has many film noir sensibilities and ends as such a film would end. Very exciting and well made.