What do you think she meant when she said “a huge black monster with giant claws”?
An overlooked piece of film noir, Henry Hathaway’s The Dark Corner is a unique and cleverly atypical chapter in the catalog of 1940s detective dramas. There’s no dramatic score to escalate the suspense, no murdered partner for the hero to avenge or deceptive dame to sidetrack his investigation; instead of a goon educated in black market politics, the antagonist is a member of the cultured American bourgeoisie. Add to that an array of convincing performances, including one by a young Lucille Ball (my theory as to why this film hasn’t gained the respect and notoriety others have; her name alone on the VHS cover has most certainly turned some die-hard noir fans off) and you have an ideal film that transcends the hackneyed storylines associated with hard-boiled cinema.
by Adam Balz | Source: 20th Century Fox VHS
16 May 2006 11:59 PM | Submit Comment