Brit Noir: The Dark Man (1951)

[morrison-dylan-fan]

Thanks to Jess,whose Brit Noir comments got me to check this rare movie out.

7

* This review may contain spoilers ***

After watching a trio of titles,I began talking to someone on a Fistful of Leone about British Film Noir,which led to me checking various lists. Catching a glimpse of her in the easy-going British Comedy Operation Bullshine,I realised that my dad had recently picked up a rare Barbara Murray Noir,which led to me meeting the dark man.

The plot:

Successfully killing his target and the cab driver,"The Dark Man" finds his identity to get uncovered,when actress Molly Lester drives pass as he kills the taxi driver. Suspecting that a double murder has taken place, Detective Inspector Viner starts searching for any clues to the suspect. Recognising Lester's face on a stage poster,Dark Man starts making plans for Lester's final performance.

View on the film:

Encouraging Lester to not focus on the "strange" events recently taking placing around her, Barbara Murray gives a charming,Diva- style performance as actress Carol Burns,whilst future Dr.Who William Hartnell gives the title a good dose of gruffness as a Superintendent. Lingering in the shadows, Maxwell Reed gives a menacing performance as The Dark Man,who pulls the raw nerves of Natasha Parry's fraught Lester.

Mostly keeping The Dark Man in long shadows,writer/director Jeffrey Dell & cinematographer Eric Cross undermine their attempt to create a mysterious mood by openly showing his face for the whole double murder. Shot on location along the south coast of England,Dell releases a superb,crisp Film Noir atmosphere,where the camera pans across an entire beach,and spots The Dark Man looking over Lester's shoulder. Shading corner of the sets in Film Noir low-lighting for The Dark Man to hide in,Dell cleverly uses real buildings at the location to give a depth of field to the Film Noir paranoia,with the lights from a lighthouse being cast across the sands and lining it in ultra-stylised black and white patterns,as The Dark Man loses his shadow.

[Jessica Rabbit]

Moi? What did I say? I don't really remember.