Black Angel (1946)

We don't think about it now but many of the film noire classics were adapted from novels that were popular at the time.  Most of those writers were alive and producing material when the movies came out and were in many cases not as polite as many writers today are.  Today many of them - even Stephen King - keep quiet either because they have learned it is in their best interest or their lawyers have made it clear to them.  Back in the day many authors didn't hold back, and Cornell Woolrich was not happy with what Universal did to his book The Black Angel. 

It's not one of the more well-known movies of its type, and it was the last movie directed by Roy William Neill, who had been responsible for the Sherlock Holmes films starring Basil Rathbone.  Due to circumstances it became a bit of a second-tier film, with Peter Lorre being the only major name in the film.  It also took the plot of Woolrich's book, pared it down to the barest essentials and made it so it fit with the Hays Code.  That's my biggest problem; the movie could have gone into more creative directions, such as the book seems to, but it was hampered too many restrictions and expectations of its time.

Mavis Marlowe (Constance Dowling) is a performer with a number of men vying for her attention.  One of those is Kirk Bennett (John Phillips), a married man with whom she has had an affair.  The affair is over, but Marlowe is not done with him.  She is blackmailing him to keep quiet and not tell his wife Catherine (June Vincent).  He decides he is not going to pay her any longer and visits her apartment only to find her strangled.  With the phone dead he is unable to call from there and leaves to inform the police.  However, he is seen leaving by Marlowe's maid (Florence Auer) and becomes the prime suspect.

With too much evidence against him Bennett is convicted of the murder.  Catherine, despite his adultery, decides to work to get him proven innocent.  A key part of that is finding a heart-shaped broach that was at the scene, one given to her by her husband Martin Blair (Dan Duryea).  Blair at first is reluctant to help Catherine but the two soon become partners in finding the real killer and saving Kirk's life, as he is facing the gas chamber.  Their suspicion falls on a restaurant owner named Marko (Lorre) who Martin saw visiting Marlowe on the same night.  The two hatch a plan to prove that Marko killed her, one that may put Catherine in grave danger. 

This did a good job of keeping the mystery going.  I have to admit I overthought it a bit, and kind of wish it did go in the direction I thought it would.  After reading a synopsis of the book I wish it closer to the source material, as Woolrich's conclusion is better than mine.  Still, the reveal is simple, realistic and sensible, even if a bit routine.  

Both Dan Duryea and June Vincent put in solid performances and she had a great singing voice.  The middle part, where Martin and Catherine pose as a performing duo to infiltrate Marko's restaurant, does drag a bit, but the songs and Vincent's natural performance helps.  What I enjoyed most was Neill's direction.  Film noire often involves the seedier side of life and is known for using darkness and shadows to get that point across.  Neill doesn't go for the usual tricks, but he is creative in his use of the camera and the effects used during the reveal of the killer play like a tribute to expressionist filmmaking.  It may be a lower budget film but it is a joy to watch.

Still, the reasons it is not more well-known do become apparent as things move along.  John Phillips is a dull sad-sack, and thankfully he is out of the movie quickly, while Roderick Crawford as Police Captain Flood seems to think he's playing a different role.  His line delivery just doesn't cut it.  There are also the aforementioned slow parts of the movie which, for as short as it is, are quite pronounced.  It is an enjoyable watch and a great addition to any noire collection, and it is definitely not a skid row production, but these issues do get in the way of what is otherwise a well-done mystery. 

Black Angel (1946)

Time: 81 minutes

Starring: Dan Duryea, June Vincent, Peter Lorre, Constance Downing

Director: Roy William Neill