Il cerchio si chiude

Janis Carter boasted a largely undistinguished filmography from the 1940s but she deserved (as so many of her female peers from this era did) better parts and greater exposure. As the scheming and duplicitous Paula Craig, she personifies the cool blonde bombshell (while her line readings are a wee bit stilted, her body language is instinctive and sensational). She's the spider into whose web drifts Glenn Ford, an out-of-work mining engineer with a bit of an alcohol problem who's looking for a break. Meanwhile, Carter's on the lookout for her embezzling boyfriend's lookalike, to furnish a warm body to provide a charred corpse. This is James M. Cain territory, and, though we've been through it with Barbara Stanwyck and Fred McMurray and with Lana Turner and John Garfield, this effort by Carter and Ford deserves more prominence; its writing, direction and cinematography are all well above average. One unique moment: a banner head in the local newspaper lets us know that one of the characters has been charged with murder, but just below it, in the mock-up, is the smaller headline "Meteorite lands near baby." I think they made that movie, too, about 10 years later.

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.

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.

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.

Glenn Ford plays a stranger who drifts into town one day. However, he soon finds himself in a tiny bit of trouble and a beautiful lady (Janis Carter) comes to his rescue. However, this is NOT a kind lady but a femme fatale with an evil plan. Her and her married lover (Barry Sullivan) plan on murdering him in order to cover up some embezzlement. However, two huge monkey wrenches are tossed in--Carter's character is evil more evil than you might expect and Ford's is not nearly as stupid as she hoped. While the plot is decent (not great), the film is ultra-stylish, smoking hot and full of femme fatale badness--exactly what I like in a film! Not quite as hot and exciting as Ford's later film, "Gilda" but still quite good. It makes you wonder why Carter never really took off as an actress--she was exquisitely nasty and hot.