ringsindiamonds

This could have been a far better movie, if only someone, anyone, used some serious creativity to avoid the absolutely nothing ending. The actors were all alright, the scenes moved along, building to a crescendo that never happened. It simply stopped, barely even a fizzle, just over and done. Who does this?

The plot was based on a famous, historic event. The screenwriter was able to create a strirring, suspense-filled drama. Yes, we've all heard about the historical facts surrounding this day while we were in school and from the media. This movie even brought out very interesting information I didn't even know about so I learned some new insights to this story. The acting was somewhat better than average. Even though the characters were typical in an investigative piece, they managed to convey both their personal lives along with the suspense of innocently stumbling over evidence that could endanger their lives and the lives of those around them. The tension between the actors and their roles was effective and kept me on edge, especially as it was building up towards the end. It's just too sad, too bad to drop the entire ball for the ending and walk away from any kind of fulfilling conclusion. How frustrating. It was a big letdown. I wish I knew the conclusion would be horrible because I wouldn't have invested the time and energy into this work.

I am a decades-long noir lover. The troubling tech issues involve such poor lighting in several scenes that the actors cannot be identified. In some shots the cameraman seems to lose control. The view rolls up, down, in, out, sideways, and then is quickly corrected to focus on the scene. Makes me dizzy watching. At times the actors words are clear with the cameras focused on their faces, but their lips are not moving (watch the opening scenes.) In much of the movie conversations lag or do not match the actors' lip movements. Add all these up and the distractions take away from the quality, impact, even the storyline. I don't understand why these kinds of errors were not corrected. Most of these actors are very good at their craft. But the one-liners are delivered flatly, rushed, unnaturally. I'm sure they had either been directed to speak this way or had preconceptions that influenced them. Finally, and this is truly just my opinion, Dick Powell does not fit the tough guy, heavy characters he plays in noir, not in any way. Each time I see him in a crime or noir movie, he is miscast. On the other hand, actors like Lee J. Cobb fit that type of character easily, believably, without any apparent effort.

Richard Widmark, Jean Peters and Thelma Ritter combine skills to make an exciting movie. Thelma Ritter is her amazing Queens NY self and Richard Widmark is dashing, handsome and a bit Steve McQueen style of swagger. You get to see all kinds of New York City through the scenes. It wasn't until towards the end of this movie that the lead actress looked like someone very familiar to me. But her voice, her hair, perspiration and mannerism were throwing me off. Her face looked like the sweet and brave, classic girl next door heroine in the Marilyn Monroe and Joseph Cotton movie, Niagara. It's her! I am stunned at her night and day character performances in these 2 films. I had no idea she was this talented. I'll research on awards she may have been nominated for or even won. She deserves awards for her work. This movie even has a fairly good ending which ties the story up nicely. Get the popcorn!! This movie doesn't get the attention it deserves.