Le génie du mal

The real-life Leopold-Loeb murder case, which inspired Alfred Hitchcock's "Rope," among other films, is the basis for this story of a couple of rich young men committing a murder just for the thrill of trying to pull off the perfect crime. Stockwell and Dillman are well cast as the cold-blooded killers. The first half of the film, focusing on the strange relationship between the two men, their crime, and their arrest, is quite interesting. Then Welles shows up as the defense attorney and the film loses momentum. Welles seems to be sleep-walking through this one, and his final speech seems to take up about a third of the film.

Leopold was paroled after years of being a model prisoner, planning all kinds of prison reforms, and when released did philanthropic work in Puerto Rico. Interesting that Meyer Levin, author of book on which this film is based said, this amazingly redeemed man just a few times gave Levin a chill as it became clear that this character of 'St. Leopold' was just another creation of a true psychopath. The mocking narcissistic smirk was still there under it all.

Seeing "Compulsion" again after a very long time, it amazed me how well I remembered it. In fact I remembered every tiny little turn in Dean Stockwell's eyes. He is superb in the part of the young semi genius with a weakness for the shallow Bradford Dillman. The Leopold and Loeb case was the base for this thrilling Richard Fleischer film. It won acting awards for Stockwell, Dillman and Orson Welles at the Cannes Film Festival but with the benefit of hindsight, Dean Stockwell emerges as the winner against the famous test of time. Dillman seems a little bit too everything. Welles is great fun to watch and E G Marshall is terrific as the man determined to unmask the "powder poofs". Stockwell fainting at the trial, something that could have been so over the top, is in fact, shattering. The Leopold and Loeb story was also the base for Hitchcock's "Rope" and the wonderful Tom Kalin's "Swoon" Another version was rumored in 1991, directed by Martin Donovan with River Phoenix in the Stockwell part.

In that actual murder case, two college students who happen to be geniuses decide that the rules don't apply to the superior intellect, and they murder some random child just for the experience, having planned the details out carefully. But since I am writing about this, apparently it was not careful enough.

All of the details of the murder case are pretty accurate, but there are fictional characters installed because this is more of a character study than a historically accurate account. These two fictional characters are Sid (Martin Milner) a college student and newspaper reporter, and his girlfriend Ruth (Diane Varsi).

Judd Steiner (Dean Stockwell) is a rough equivalent to Leopold. Arthur Straus (Bradford Dillman) is a rough equivalent to Loeb. This is still the 1950s, so the production code wouldn't allow you to just come out and say what is going on between the two of them, but the film does as good a job as it can of portraying Steiner as in love with Straus, although the film has Arthur/Artie as being the one who wants to indulge in all of the criminal behavior with Judd mainly going along so he can keep Artie close to him. In fact it was Leopold/Steiner who was the instigator of all of the crimes that led up to murder. Instead, Steiner is portrayed as a timid guy alienated from his family who would have probably just been a self involved loner with weird hobbies if not for the bad influence of Straus. In fact, I think Ruth is in this film just to insinuate that Steiner "liked" girls more than she is there as a girlfriend for the all American student journalist, Sid.

It's actually a pretty good look at what criminal investigators had to work with 100 years ago before there was DNA - identifying a typewriter from a ransom note, and being able to trace one pair of glasses out of thousands like it down to the person who owned them. As for interviews, before "you have the right to remain silent" was part of the police procedural vernacular, the smart investigator wants to keep the suspect talking - if he is guilty eventually he will trip himself up. Bright lights, billy clubs, and brutality are not required.

Although Orson Wells doesn't appear on screen until halfway through the film, he dominates the conclusion. His character, John Wilk, is based on Clarence Darrow who was probably the most famous defense attorney in the country during the early 1900s. He is faced with the difficult task of preventing two rich kids with every advantage who killed a child for the thrill of it all from going to the gallows.

"Compulsion" was one of the most important American films of the late 50s. Based loosely on the famous Leopold and Loeb case, the movie still packs quite an impact because of the excellent work by the three principals. As directed by Richard Fleischer, this is a disturbing look at two criminal minds who thought they were above and beyond the law because they had the perfect crime planned. The film was greatly adapted for the screen by Richard Murphy from the Meyer Levin book and stage play.

Even for those clever enough to carry on a murder, there is always a possibility that a minor mistake will give the culprit away. The two young men at the center of the story, Judd Steiner and Artie Straus are homosexual lovers. At the time, being gay in America must have been one of the worst things in a more puritanical and pious society. These two men hide their sexual preference well because of the circles they both move. Coming from upper class families, in a way, made it easier for these men to formulate a plan to satisfy their idle existences.

After committing a heinous crime, just because they thought they could get away with it, the two friends begin experiencing the guilt associated with what they have done. Judd's reaction is different from Artie's. Where Judd tries to lay low, Artie tries to help the police in a bold move that will end up badly. Judd suddenly feels abandoned by Artie when he realizes Artie might be getting too close to the people investigating the murder.

As careful as these men had been, something that apparently seems innocent, ties them to the crime. The principal investigator, Sid Brooks, turns the men against one another by playing his cards right. This is the moment that Jonathan Wilk, the famous trial lawyer enters the picture. Unfortunately, even a star lawyer can't save people that have talked too much because they thought they were above the law.

Star lawyers have always been at the center of all famous trials throughout the history. In a way, it's ironic that only one man, the great Jonathan Wilk is the only person in court to defend Steiner and Straus. Had it been today, these two men would have had a battery of expensive lawyers making the case for them. The figure of Wilke is based on the real lawyer of the Leopold and Loeb case: Clarence Darrow, a man larger than life.

Dean Stockwell and Bradford Dillman made an invaluable contribution to the success of the film. Mr. Stockwell, a child actor that grew up in front of the camera, makes a compelling Judd Steiner. Mr. Stockwell gets under Steiner's skin because he seems to know what made this young man do what he did. Mr. Dillman was a relative new face to the movies, but his performance as Artie Straus has a profound effect on the viewer. Neither man makes a likable person, but maybe that was the message the author of the play wanted to leave the viewer with.

Orson Welles made a splendid appearance as the defense lawyer, Jonathan Wilk. Mr. Welles' physical presence dominates most of the court proceedings. In fact, is a tribute to his genius that he towers over everything around him whenever he is in front of the camera. E. G. Marshall has some good moments as Sid Brooks, the investigator who unearths the truth in this case. Ed Binns, Martin Milner, Robert Simon, Richard Anderson make contributions to the film. Diane Varsi, as the Ruth Evans is the only female that has an opportunity in the film.

The film moves at a quick pace and will, no doubt, satisfy those viewers seeking intelligent entertainment.