O Crime da Semana

Breezy programmer pits "Crime of the Week" star John Forsythe in a battle of wits against technical consultant Edward G. Robinson. The backdrop is the murder of a calculating and blackmailing beautiful siren, well-played by the radiant Kathleen Hughes. Meanwhile, the record "Temptation" plays over and over and over again. A solid "B" movie supporting cast and inventive direction moves this one along quickly with the debonair Forsythe disarmed for quite a while by the bulldoggishly cynical Edward G. Robinson. The crime eventually gets reenacted on the TV show in the show's climactic scene. The trap is set, and somebody bites. I enjoyed the resolution, and hope you will also. Warning, Temptation is played so many times that it will probably run through your head for quite some time after seeing this one.

This crime thriller is the best proof that Jack Arnold was not only a terrific science fiction film or western maker - remember TARANTULA, INCREDIBLE SHRINKING MAN, CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON for sci-ci; and NO NAME ON THE BULLET, MAN FROM BITTER RIDGE, concerning westerns. This plot looks so like a Richard Levinson and William Link's story - COLUMBO screenwriters. The perfect crime improvised by a well known TV man. Only a Columbo like detective is missing. I definitely love this fifties thriller, bringing a typical atmosphere of this period. But the 3 D special effects are not that adequate in this kind of story.

Essentially known as the master of science fiction Jack Arnold astonishes us in this 3-D Noir offering Glass Web where the arts mimic the life, in a contrived plot about a weirdo TV show weekly aired exposes several murders intitled as Crime of the Week sponsored by a famous tobacco company, turns out that such company wasn't so happy concerning the low audience and seemingly won't renovate the sponsorship.

Oddly enough falls from sky a great opportunity due a mediatic crime carried out in that night involved a beauty woman Paula (Kathleen Hughes), all evidences point out as passionate crime supposedly committed by a jealous husband arrested at jail, thus the wiser technical adviser Henry Hayes (Edward G. Robinson) proposes emulate this case on the upcoming Crime of the Week, even against the will of the head writer Don Newell (John Forsythe).

However the police suspects that such girl Paula had something linked with TV show's crew members and expect some hints to lead to real killer, in fact both Hayes and Newell had a torrid affairs with the femme fatale, the story is told by many flashbacks that implies both as true lovers, nonetheless whoever killed the B-girl remains unknown...yet!!

Thanks for reading.

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First watch: 2024 / How many: 1 / Source: DVD / Rating: 7.

How I love film noir n films from the 40's & 50's! A very engaging and thrilling film with a great Cast!! Kathleen Hughes( It Came From Outer Space fame) plays a vixen Supreme! She snares her victims like a Spider in its Web. Great cast with Edward G. Robinson, Richard Denning & John Forsythe! A solid thriller now on Blu Ray n also in 3D - if you are set up for it!

I highly recommend this newly released to BLU Ray and its another fine 1950's Film Noir!!! They truely do not make films like this anymore! Kathleen Hughes is the only one still alive from the cast, she is now 96! God bless her! Catch her also in, " IT CAME FROM OUTER SPACE " also released in 1953!!!

In The Glass Web, Kathleen Hughes stars as an ambitious actress willing to sleep her way to the top. She's very attractive and is clad to the nines in gowns by Bill Thomas, and she has that "Marilyn Monroe" cunning aspect which serves her purpose very well. Robert Blees and Leonard Lee's screenplay is quite good, with fun quips and interesting twists around every corner. It's no wonder the characters are all very smart, since the story revolves around a true-crime television program that pays attention to the slightest detail. Richard Denning is the producer, Edward G. Robinson is the casting and technical director, and Richard Forsythe is the writer. Each week, their program reenacts a murder and explains how it was done, the motivation, and how the killer got caught.

At first glance, The Glass Web might seem like just a typical thriller, but there are so many surprises throughout the plot - starting with the opening scene! I'd definitely recommend this movie, especially if you like your movies soapy and dramatic. I could make my review longer with more compliments, but I don't want to give a single thing away. It's so exciting when you watch it with absolutely no idea of what's going to happen next! I found myself talking to the television and trying to advise the characters - and since I've seen so many movies, it's a real tribute to The Glass Web that I was so engrossed.