STUART HEISLER
Bil’s rating (out of 5): BBB.5.
USA, 1942. Paramount Pictures. Screenplay by Jonathan Latimer, based on the novel by Dashiell Hammett. Cinematography by Theodor Sparkuhl. Produced by E. Lloyd Sheldon. Music by John Leipold, Heinz Roemheld, Tom Satterfield. Production Design by Hans Dreier, A. Earl Hedrick. Film Editing by Hugh Bennett.
Routine Dashiell Hammett murder mystery has Alan Ladd up to his usual business as a bodyguard to an important politician (Brian Donlevy) accused of murder. Where would film noir be without the double-crossing blonde? Nowhere! Don’t worry, Veronica Lake is here too, and she’s lovely. It’s a solid movie, but nothing feels fresh or original.
