The Pretender

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.

The Pretender, directed by Billy Wilder's much less talented brother, at time resembles nothing so much as an extended (though not by much; it runs 69 minutes) version of a TV show like The Twilight Zone. Albert Dekker plays a middle-aged financial advisor who has been plundering the accounts of his rich "ward," Catherine Craig. As he gets deeper in the hole, he dreams up the scheme of marrying her. Alas, she pops up with a fiance, who he arranges to have bumped off. Through several twists of fate and screenwriting, he ends up the target of the unknown hitman. Though living in the lap of luxury as a well-married husband, he refuses to eat food served by a series of butlers and gnaws on crackers and cold canned food in his room. His paranoia overtakes his life, until... Dekker plays the part with a convincing mixture of unction and fear, almost making a human being out of this contrived character. This is one of the first movies to score for theramin (oo-EEE-oo), which became a cliche in 50s it-came-from-beyond films, but here adds to the unsettling atmosphere.

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.

What would it have been like if David Lynch were sitting in the director's chair in the golden age of film noir? This picture might give a hint of what it may have looked like. The thing is populated with phantoms inhabiting the bodies of some of the screen's most dastardly character types. There goes Charles Middleton posing as a butler from the nether regions. And here comes a young doctor in the guise of Charles Drake. I wonder what else he cuts up when he slithers out the door in the evening? And then there's the film's handsome, middle aged, Albert Dekker, in a bravura performance as an embezzler. He continually wrings his hands and worries about other fantasies that are too diseased for the light of night. He becomes obsessed and woefully paranoid about "those who are coming" to get him. He locks himself into his "fine and private" room there to gorge himself on a worthless diet of potted meats and stale crackers. His self perpetuated madness takes on epic proportions as he tries to get away from his internal horror and this makes for the ultimate bad choice in causing him to forfeit his life in a most chilling manner.

This is truly a low budget nightmare noir filmed with consummate skill and gusto by the German cinematographer John Alton before his career with the terrific director Anthony Mann. The two of them made some of the finest film noirs to grace the screen. Also, this particular picture uses forced perspective and scrunched miniatures to add to its otherworldly view. In the end, it is probably W.Lee Wilder, Billy's older brother's best attempt behind the camera. He wouldn't manage to trod any meaner streets than these again.

This independent noir thriller release by Republic has a collection of second line players that give the plot a nice ring of authenticity. It's headed by Albert Dekker who plays an investment banker who gets himself in a nice little jackpot of his own making.

Dekker is the manager of the estate of Catherine Craig chosen by her late father and he's made some bad investments. As he's been friend of the family for years he decides to marry Craig. She says she's getting married to someone he doesn't know.

After that Dekker arranges a hit on the new husband whomever it is. But then Craig breaks it off and marries Dekker after an elopement. Someone takes a picture and it lands in the society page without his knowledge.

It gets worse and worse. He tries to call off the contract, but the broker is killed and he doesn't know who the hitman is.

Dekker is the perfect picture of paranoia. Craig is the concerned wife who is frightened of the mental breakdown she sees coming on. Charles Drake plays the psychiatrist she almost married and now turns for help.

Some people in surprising roles are Alan Carney usually a buffoon plays it straight and nasty as the contract arranger. His right hand man Tom Kennedy is usually a thick as a brick blockhead plays it serious. Charles Middleton best known as Ming the Merciless plays a mysterious butler Craig hires.

This is one good thriller. Good because I couldn't guess the end which always scores high with me.