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Paramount Pictures
Not part of a collection.
...SHE'LL LIE...KILL OR KISS HER WAY OUT OF ANYTHING!
Cleve Marshall, an assistant district attorney, falls for Thelma Jordon, a mysterious woman with a troubled past. When Thelma becomes a suspect in her aunt's murder, Cleve tries to clear her name.
John Chard
Jul 15, 2018 · via TMDB
I'm no good for any man for any longer than a kiss! The File on Thelma Jordon is directed by Robert Siodmak and written by Ketti Frings and Marty Holland. It stars Barbara Stanwyck, Wendell Corey, Paul Kelly, Joan Tetzel, Stanley Ridges and Richard Rober. Music is by Victor Young and cinematography by George Barnes. Assistant district attorney Cleve Marshall (Corey) falls for Thelma Jordon (Stanwyck) after she seeks help solving a problem with prowlers and burglars. But is there more to Thelma than meets the eye? Probably due to availability issues in home viewing formats, this appears to be one of film noir legends Siodmak and Stanwyck's under seen pictures. Which is a shame, for although it is often tagged as something of a lesser value Double Indemnity, it's a noir that noir lovers can get great rewards from. As we are in noirville the plot isn't at all surprising. Stanwyck fronts up for what we expect is femme fatale duty, Corey looks to be on course for being a hapless loser dude, Kelly is up for some tough copper portrayal, while Rober stalks the edges of the frame as bad news bloke. A despicable crime is at the core of the story, and characterisations are straight out of the dark alleyway (Thelma has murky secrets and ideals, Wendell is unhappily married with a drink problem). Running at 100 minutes in length, the pic does feel a touch too long, especially given that the first thirty minutes is focused on building the principal players, where they are at in their life and the build up of their relationship. This asks for faith in staying with the piece, in hope it rewards for the following hour plus. Thankfully it does. As the crime arrives, we are treated to noir nirvana as per style of film making. It's the middle of the night in a house menaced by shadows as the wind bashes an open window shutter. For a good twenty minutes, prior to - during - and post the crime, the house is a scary monstrous place, perfect for a dark deed to be enacted. The great Siodmak (The Killers, The Spiral Staircase, Criss Cross) is in his element on this, where aided by the superb photographic skills of Barnes (Rebecca, Force of Evil), the staging of scenes and the visuals enhance the moody machinations of the plot. As does Young's dramatic musical score. So with acting performances comfortably on par for the good the tech credits are high. Irks come with that drawn out first third of film, and the ending poses some question marks as well. Personally I would have liked it to have finished five minutes earlier, but as it stands there's a sort of double whammy with the finale. Some will find it contrived, others will applaud the ultimate outcome since it doesn't cop out. Either way, this is a noir film worthy of seeking out for the like minded purveyors of such things. 7/10
User reviews courtesy of TMDB.
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Barbara Stanwyck
Thelma Jordon
Wendell Corey
Cleve Marshall
Paul Kelly
Miles Scott
Joan Tetzel
Pamela Blackwell Marshall
Stanley Ridges
Kingsley Willis
Richard Rober
Tony Laredo
Minor Watson
Judge Calvin H. Blackwell
Barry Kelley
District Attorney William Pierce
Kasey Rogers
Dolly - Cleve's Secretary
Basil Ruysdael
Judge Jonathan David Hancock
Jane Novak
Mrs. Blackwell
Gertrude Hoffmann
Aunt Vera Edwards
Harry Antrim
Sidney
Kate Drain Lawson
Clara
Theresa Harris
Esther
Byron Barr
McCary
Geraldine Wall
Matron
Bess Flowers
Dinner Party Guest (uncredited)
Nick Cravat
Reporter (uncredited)
Eric Alden
Reporter (uncredited)
Gertrude Astor
Juror (uncredited)
Eddie Borden
Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
Clancy Cooper
Chase (uncredited)
Dot Farley
Woman Prisoner (uncredited)
Franklyn Farnum
Grand Juryman / Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
Mary Gordon
Charwoman (uncredited)
Lew Harvey
Reporter (uncredited)
Virginia Hunter
Pierce's Secretary (uncredited)
Nolan Leary
Court Clerk (uncredited)
Sam McDaniel
Porter (uncredited)
Ottola Nesmith
Mrs. Asher (uncredited)
Garry Owen
Bailiff (uncredited)
Eddie Parks
Club Proprietor (uncredited)
Lee Phelps
Chauffeur (uncredited)
Ezelle Poule
Woman (uncredited)
Charles Sherlock
Reporter (uncredited)
Kenneth Tobey
Police Photographer (uncredited)
Arthur Tovey
Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
Dorothy Vernon
Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
Fairy Cunningham
Woman Prisoner (uncredited)
Marjorie Kane
Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
Sam Comer
Set Decoration
Edith Head
Costume Design
Wally Westmore
Makeup Supervisor
Robert Siodmak
Director
Hal B. Wallis
Producer
Victor Young
Original Music Composer
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Seven Dorms of Death
2015
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1982
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Battle your watched movies head-to-head
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Evil Dead II
1987 · 14 wins
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2008 · 14 wins
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1978 · 13 wins
Final Destination
2000 · 12 wins
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1981 · 11 wins
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