tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-137677673775151256.post8534437328308441981..comments2024-03-27T11:26:20.466-07:00Comments on The Passing Tramp: Stalkers: Possessed (1947) and The Prowler (1951)The Passing Tramphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09830680639601570152noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-137677673775151256.post-20309904206604791012014-09-01T06:38:03.414-07:002014-09-01T06:38:03.414-07:00I especially like her performance in Humoresque. ...I especially like her performance in Humoresque. Sadly I can't review it here, because it's simply not a crime film, darn it! Her third Oscar nomination, for Sudden Fear, was for a role in another crime film, however.The Passing Tramphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09830680639601570152noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-137677673775151256.post-4706764662354092212014-09-01T02:00:45.988-07:002014-09-01T02:00:45.988-07:00Sounds like a great viewing evening. I love Joan C...Sounds like a great viewing evening. I love Joan Crawford, she is always herself - that top picture is a generic JC look...Clothes In Bookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14680610242823846662noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-137677673775151256.post-37100530619105747362014-09-01T01:21:47.407-07:002014-09-01T01:21:47.407-07:00Watched that last sequence in Prowler with Heflin ...Watched that last sequence in Prowler with Heflin and he really is extraordinary. Amazing gamut of emotions. I often read people saying of noir novels, oh, you *really* identify with X, the psycho serial killer and, without trying to be priggish, really, I'm like, oh really? you may have, but I didn't! I don't believe I've found a Jim Thompson "anti-hero" sympathetic.<br /><br />But I actually found myself feeling sorry for Heflin's character on some level. I suppose they did give him some slivers of redeeming qualities. In a way, his human qualities were what brought him down in the end.The Passing Tramphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09830680639601570152noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-137677673775151256.post-5313116307996312372014-08-31T12:15:50.122-07:002014-08-31T12:15:50.122-07:00John, just read your piece from over three years a...John, just read your piece from over three years ago, thanks. I corrected above about Hugo Butler; I hadn't realized Dalton Trumbo only gave credit to him because of the blacklisting (imdb lists them as co-scripters). I have yet to listen to the commentaries and interviews, but definitely will, they look great.The Passing Tramphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09830680639601570152noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-137677673775151256.post-61995739738977275142014-08-31T12:07:09.298-07:002014-08-31T12:07:09.298-07:00I'll have to check out your review. I really ...I'll have to check out your review. I really enjoyed it tremendously. I looked up the best actor Oscar nominees for 1951 films, and I have to admit it's a group of strong actors (Humphrey Bogart, African Queen, Marlon Brando, Streetcar Named Desire, Montgomery Clift, A Place in the Sun, Arthur Kennedy, Bright Victory, Fredric March, Death of a Salesman), but I think Helin was certainly worthy of a nomination. So was Keyes for actress. I'm surprised this doesn't show up more on "classic" noir lists. I was surprised how bold the script was in some ways (didn't want to include too many spoilers!).The Passing Tramphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09830680639601570152noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-137677673775151256.post-17676781105416470322014-08-31T11:52:57.375-07:002014-08-31T11:52:57.375-07:00The point of view shot with Crawford and Heflin wa...The point of view shot with Crawford and Heflin was one of the parts I liked in the film, definitely. Heflin's reaction was memorable. It's frustrating being limited by spoilers going into more detail! I thought the opening, with Joan wandering the streets in a daze (and in black) was good too.<br /><br />The film made David into something of a jerk, I suppose, but I still found him much more sympathetic than Michael Douglas' character in Fatal Attraction! It was hard for me to identify with Louise after she married Dean, as I said, because she really had a good life at that point, but I know she's supposed to be going crackers.The Passing Tramphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09830680639601570152noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-137677673775151256.post-27275115433663857992014-08-31T11:46:23.043-07:002014-08-31T11:46:23.043-07:00Yeah, I have to admit I was somewhat disappointed ...Yeah, I have to admit I was somewhat disappointed with Possessed, but then tastes vary!The Passing Tramphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09830680639601570152noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-137677673775151256.post-13924031663270764472014-08-31T10:52:21.138-07:002014-08-31T10:52:21.138-07:00I saw THE PROWLER a couple of years ago and wrote ...I saw THE PROWLER a couple of years ago and wrote it up on my blog. I think it's the ultimate noir film. It outdoes all the "classic" noirs and tells an unusual story shirking nearly all the tropes of most noir films in the process. I talked to Megan Abbott about it at Bouchercon in St Louis. We both gushed over it.J F Norrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06473487417479127354noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-137677673775151256.post-18963918983717989972014-08-31T06:55:27.275-07:002014-08-31T06:55:27.275-07:00Thanks for a pair of fine reviews. My re-watching ...Thanks for a pair of fine reviews. My re-watching of <i>Black Widow</i> has reminded me how much I enjoy Heflin's acting; I may dig out <i>Possessed</i> for another look; I don't remember the dull bits you mention! <i>The Prowler</i> is, as you say, a cracker of a movie.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-137677673775151256.post-69340760966739905662014-08-31T00:17:58.292-07:002014-08-31T00:17:58.292-07:00What a fantastic Heflin double bill (well, triple ...What a fantastic Heflin double bill (well, triple if you include BLACK WIDOW of course), here seen very much as a feeble man hopelessly in thrall to his moral laxity. I always thought he got a bit of a raw deal in POSSESSED, with la Crawford gettign off comparatively easy purely by dint of star power as his character definitely doesn't deserve what happens to him - and there is that fantastic point of view shot that I remember being really impressed by. I have been meaning to write about THE PROWLER for ages as it is such an amazing film - thanks Curt really enjoyed these reviews. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com