Don't for a second believe anyone who tries to convince you that this is a film noir. The only noir things about "Clash by Night" are its nonsensical title and some actors, notably Barbara Stanwyck and Robert Ryan, who appeared in their fair share of films of that genre.
No, "Clash by Night" is a character study of three people caught up in a romantic triangle. Stanwyck is the hard-luck girl who returns to her hometown after some sordid things have happened to her and tries to be happy with a steady-but-boring regular Joe (Paul Douglas). But she's really drawn to the town bad boy (played by Ryan) even though she knows he'd treat her, well, badly.
"Clash by Night" is adapted from a Clifford Odets play, and its stage origins show. It's a pretty talky film and feels fairly stagy despite being helmed by master director Fritz Lang. On the plus side, it offers some really satisfyingly complex characterizations and allows three talented actors to develop characters that defy easy categorization. It also asks us to think about the film's casually violent treatment of women, either literally or rhetorically, a theme that feels especially relevant just now.
Grade: B
No, "Clash by Night" is a character study of three people caught up in a romantic triangle. Stanwyck is the hard-luck girl who returns to her hometown after some sordid things have happened to her and tries to be happy with a steady-but-boring regular Joe (Paul Douglas). But she's really drawn to the town bad boy (played by Ryan) even though she knows he'd treat her, well, badly.
"Clash by Night" is adapted from a Clifford Odets play, and its stage origins show. It's a pretty talky film and feels fairly stagy despite being helmed by master director Fritz Lang. On the plus side, it offers some really satisfyingly complex characterizations and allows three talented actors to develop characters that defy easy categorization. It also asks us to think about the film's casually violent treatment of women, either literally or rhetorically, a theme that feels especially relevant just now.
Grade: B