With Fritz Lang in the director's chair, this should have been a much tighter, more suspenseful film than it actually is. Part of the problem is the script--the characters portrayed by Dana Andrews and Joan Fontaine are poorly written. Fontaine, in particular, has little to do with the scheme of things and Andrews is so good at being an anti-hero that he makes the character even more unpleasant than he has to be. Barbara Nichols stands out in a good supporting role as a brassy blonde showgirl and Sidney Blackmer as a man who concocts the scheme that lands Andrews in prison is excellent. And by the way, contrary to what a viewer states here, Donna Reed is nowhere in the supporting cast.
Aside from that, the outcome leaves you baffled. It's a surprise, all right, but it all seems to be too patly contrived--a twist upon twist that stretches credibility to the limit. A letdown feeling is the overall result of the deceptive ending.
A tight-lipped Dana Andrews and a sophisticated Joan Fontaine (too frosty as his loyal fiancé) have both done better work. Fontaine has one of her weakest roles, but the film's biggest flaw is the way it toys with the viewer's expectations and then fails to deliver that final punch.
Definitely one of Fritz Lang's lesser works.
Aside from that, the outcome leaves you baffled. It's a surprise, all right, but it all seems to be too patly contrived--a twist upon twist that stretches credibility to the limit. A letdown feeling is the overall result of the deceptive ending.
A tight-lipped Dana Andrews and a sophisticated Joan Fontaine (too frosty as his loyal fiancé) have both done better work. Fontaine has one of her weakest roles, but the film's biggest flaw is the way it toys with the viewer's expectations and then fails to deliver that final punch.
Definitely one of Fritz Lang's lesser works.