Outrage

Ida Lupino was a great actress and director and was a strong fighter for WOMEN'S RIGHTS which is shown in this B&W 1950's film. Lupino did her very best to show the great mental HARMS that women must go through all their life when such CRIMES are committed. Mala Powers,(Ann Walton),"Cyrano de Bergerac",'50 was a young woman about to be married and very happy and was deeply in love with her future husband. All of a sudden she is violated and she becomes ashamed to go back to her family, future husband or even work place and runs away with all these mental problems in her mind and soul! She becomes a tortured human being and runs into Tod Andrews,(Rev. Bruce Ferguson),"From Hell it Came",'57, who has problems of his own, however, he is able to help Mala find love and confidence and only scratches the surface for her ever becoming a Normal person and a loving woman. Hal March,(Detective Sgt. Hendrix),"The $64,000Question,'55 TV Series Emcee comes to Mala's aid after she almost kills a young man just trying to show her attention. This film is over 54 years old, but it still tells a story that never seems to END! This was a great effort on the part of Ida Lupino to open up the eyes of AMERICA and LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES!

Ida Lupino was one of the few women to break through the directorial glass ceiling in Hollywood under the studio system. Not surprisingly, she also tackled proto-feminist themes that, when touched at all, were approached in so gingerly a manner that it was seldom quite clear what was being talked about. In Outrage, she treats rape and its aftermath, and though throughout the short movie it's referred to as `criminal assault,' she leaves, for once, no doubt about what happened.

Mala Powers (in her official debut) plays a secretary-bookkeeper at a big industrial plant; she lives with her parents but is engaged to a swell guy (Robert Clarke), who just got a raise and now makes $90 a week. Leaving the plant after working late one night, she finds herself being stalked. In the ensuing scene – the best in the movie – she tries to escape her pursuer in a forbidding maze of buildings and alleys but fails.

When she returns home, disheveled and in shock, the police can't get much out of her; she claims she never saw her attacker (who manned a snack truck outside the factory). Trying to pretend that nothing happened, she returns to her job but falls apart, thinking that everybody is staring at her, judging her. She goes into a fugue state, running away to Los Angeles on a bus but stumbling off at a rest stop.

Waking up in a strange ranch house, she learns that she's been rescued by Tod Andrews, a young minister in a California agricultural town. She lies about her identity and takes a job packing oranges. The two fall vaguely in love, but it's clear to Andrews that Powers is keeping dire secrets. When, at a company picnic, she seizes a wrench and cracks the skull of Jerry Paris, who was trying to steal a kiss, the truth about her past comes out....

It was a courageous movie to come out in 1950, and that may explain and excuse some of its shortcomings. Lupino never recaptures the verve of the early assault scene, and the movie wanders off into the bucolic and sentimental, ending up talky and didactic. Yes, Lupino had important information to impart, but she didn't trust the narrative to speak for itself. Her cast, pleasant but bland and generic, weren't much help, either, reverting to melodramatic postures or homespun reassurance. But Outrage was a breakthrough, blazing a trail for later discourse on what the crime of rape really is, and what it really means to its victims.

Outrage is directed by Ida Lupino and Lupino co-writes the screenplay with Collier Young and Malvin Wald. It stars Mala Powers, Tod Andrews and Robert Clarke. Music is by Paul Sawtell and cinematography by Archie Stout.

Transport your mindset back to 1950 and you are in all probability going to admire this picture more than you would think. As is duly noted by other reviewers, this pic, and it's treatment of rape as a core subject matter, is dated as such, but that in no way lessens not only its impact and importance in the pantheon of film making, but also the fine work by Lupino. Lupino treads with careful guile, not resorting to sensationalism, it's a super piece of directing from one of the great ladies of cinema yore.

Pic's story deals with how Ann Walton (Powers) is raped and after the ordeal how she reacts to everyday life under her fragile mental state. The decisions she makes, her perception of things and ultimately a near cataclysmic event that brings things to the boil - sort of. Lupino adds in some imposing images, her film noir work serving her well, thus we get odd angles, ominous bulbous lamp lights, lonely streets and clown posters! The pursuit of Ann by a whistling wolf is frightening under any circumstance, but with Lupino adding her noir touches it's positively shattering.

Rest of the pic is tenderly played, a touch too sedate perhaps, while the appearance of a religious slant is forced and not the wisest of choices for the story, but ultimately it's not about mass market appeal. It's about being noticed and worthy, it achieves both for sure. 7/10

FILM: 7/10.

Outrage, directed by Ida Lupino, is a remarkable film that dared to challenge societal norms of its time. Released in 1950, Lupino took on the progressive and challenging task of directing a film as a woman, and not only that, but one that focused on the theme of sexual assault and its profound impacts. Even though more than seven decades have passed since its release, it's disheartening to realize that society still has a long way to go in addressing this issue.

Lupino masterfully balances the delicate line between ensuring the story's effectiveness and abiding by the restrictive guidelines set by the Hays Code. The film cleverly sidesteps explicit visuals and instead relies on the power of suggestion to convey the emotional toll inflicted on the protagonist. The result is a haunting portrayal of the psychological aftermath of sexual assault, painting a stark and disquieting picture that resonates even today.

The performances in Outrage are truly commendable. Mala Powers delivers a compelling performance as the victim of the assault, skillfully capturing the character's vulnerability, fear, and eventual strength. The supporting cast, including Tod Andrews and Robert Clarke, provide solid performances that add depth and nuance to the narrative.

However, the film's effectiveness is somewhat impacted by a significant shift in the story halfway through. The introduction of a clergyman and the subsequent exploration of religious themes take away from the film's initial focus on the consequences of sexual assault. While this thematic shift adds complexity to the narrative, it dilutes the impact of the central issue at times.

Despite this narrative detour, Outrage remains an important film that dared to tackle a sensitive subject in an era when it was largely ignored. Ida Lupino's directorial prowess shines through, challenging audiences to confront the lasting impacts of sexual assault. It serves as a reminder that although progress has been made, there is still much work to be done. Outrage is a poignant and thought-provoking film that deserves recognition for its boldness and the conversations it continues to spark.

FORMAT: Blu-ray

VIDEO: 7/10.

1080p presentation, Detail level: Good, Colour reproduction: Excellent, Level accuracy: Excellent, Encode: Good, Master condition: Good

AUDIO: 8/10.

LPCM 2.0 mono audio, Dialogue reproduction: Good, Soundtrack & effects clarity: Good, Dynamics: Good, Surround sound presentation: N/A, LFE content: N/A

MOOFIEMETER: 7/10.

Ida Lupino is a name that we know for one of the most stunning beauties ever to appear on screen.

And the beauty is great.

So is the actress.

So is the director.

This is a stage fare sort of film. A great film has to work on stage as well as screen. A great film has to inspire kids to make believe, although the subject matter here probably is over the heads of most kids.

This is the story of a respectable young woman, a total beauty on the order of Ida herself, rich in values, who is sexually assaulted.

What she goes through after-wards is well depicted. Not only does Ida show us what the world sees, but she shows us what the young lady sees.

Throughout the film, we get textbook directing and more. Not only is it blocked like a professional stage director would block it, but it is given all the additives that film can give. To say more would be to spoil what will be a pleasant experience for the viewer.

I call it "perfect directing", but you can't have a film this perfect without perfect writing and acting as well. This film excels on all levels.

I am a stickler for credible characters in incredible circumstances. However, here, we have credible characters in credible circumstances, and we still watch with interest. It is a heart filled story that will leave the strong men in tears.

And it is not dated. Still relevant today. A hidden gem.