Cornered (film)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Cornered | |
|---|---|
 Cornered movie poster |
|
| Directed by | Edward Dmytryk |
| Produced by | Adrian Scott |
| Written by | John Wexley (story and adaptation) John Paxton Ben Hecht (uncredited) |
| Starring | Dick Powell Walter Slezak Micheline Cheirel |
| Music by | Roy Webb Paul Sawtell (uncredited) |
| Cinematography | Harry J. Wild |
| Distributed by | RKO Radio Pictures Inc. |
| Release date(s) | December 25, 1945 (U.S. release) |
| Running time | 102 min. |
| Language | English |
| IMDb profile | |
Cornered is a 1945 film noir starring Dick Powell, directed by Edward Dmytryk and produced by Adrian Scott. This is the second teaming of Powell and Dmytryk (after Murder, My Sweet). Many scenes shot by cinematographer Harry J. Wild and Dmytryk stand out as classic film noir - such as one where Powell is walking through the streets of Buenos Aires in search of Jarnac's hideout, with dark shadows obscuring his path. Screenplay by John Paxton with uncredited help from Ben Hecht.
Contents |
[edit] Plot
Ex-P.O.W. Canadian flyer Laurence Gerard (Powell) returns to France to discover who ordered the killing of a group of Resistance fighters that included his bride of only 20 days. He identifies Vichy collaborator Marcel Jarnac, who is reported as dead himself - killed in a fire. Gerard searches through the rumble and finds the front page of a dossier about Jarnac. And, because of the date handwritten on it, he's convinced that Jarnac is still alive. Gerard follows the trail to Argentina where the convoluted tale becomes slightly clearer.
[edit] Reaction
Reviews for the thriller are mixed. While Channel 4 notes that "the noir atmosphere is sustained well throughout [1], the Classic Film Guide calls the film a mess. "The plot is so confusing, with so many twists and turns, you'll get whiplash trying to keep up, if you're even interested enough to try. Plus, if you've ever read a Robert Ludlum novel (particularly The Rhinemann Exchange), you'll be sorely disappointed in the intelligence (and one dimensional nature) of Powell's character, and the route he takes to enact his revenge." [2]
[edit] Featured cast
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Dick Powell | Laurence Gerard |
| Walter Slezak | Melchior Incza |
| Micheline Cheirel | Mme. Madeleine Jarnac(Laurent) |
| Nina Vale | Senora Camargo |
| Morris Carnovsky | Manuel Satana |
- Character actor Byron Foulger appears uncredited as a hotel night clerk.
[edit] External links
Cornered at the Internet Movie Database
