Reportage fatal

This film is about the best example of noir you will find about blackmail and shakedowns. It stars Howard Duff as an unscrupulous photographer, who will do anything and anyone to get the pictures that will advance his career. His heartless, ruthless portrayal is chilling at times. It kind of reminded me of myself when I was younger, but I mellowed with age.

Lawrence Tierney is always terrific in these films; and this one is no exception. He plays a violent hood being shaken down by Duff.

In this film, Duff uses women like most of us use a plastic bottle of water; use once and throw away. I am sure Ida Lupino (his real life love) was amused by this role. The only problem is that Duff has a genuine likable personality in real life, so he is being cast against type here. He would go on to many more good guy roles that audiences really wanted to see from him. A solid entry.