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NO ORCHIDS FOR MISS BLANDISH (1948) Jack LaRue, Linden Travers, Lili Molnar, Hugh McDermott. A great gangster film! Travers is a gorgeous society dame who is kidnapped by two thugs. LaRue gives the best portrayal of his life as a gangster who, along with his Ma-Barkerish mother, owns the Black Dice Club, a classy spot filled with rich suckers, showgirls, and illicit types. When his boys hear of Travers’ kidnapping, they swoop in and nab the girl for themselves. But something amazing occurs, Travers, who likes LaRue’s macho style, melts his gangster heart and they fall in love. What follows is one of the better crime movies of the ‘40s, filled with tough talk, ruthless gangsters, sexy dames, classy musical numbers, and taut action. It is a very violent movie for its time, with women being slapped around, merciless beatings, and people being shot down left and right. And what an ending! It caused a ruckus in the UK when it was first released; it then hit state-side in ‘51 as Black Dice. This film showed that LaRue was just as good in tough guy roles as Bogart, Cagney, etc. 35mm.
DOUBLE CONFESSION (1950) Derek Farr, Joan Hopkins, Peter Lorre, William Hartnell. Top British noir! After his wife is slain in a seaside cottage, Farr, also a suspect, threatens to pin the crime on his wife’s lover. A mosaic of intrigue follows. Events takes place at a rollicking ocean town where Farr meets Hopkins, an enigmatic lady with secrets of her own. Soon attempts are made on Farr’s life as the police inch closer to solving the crime. There’s not a wasted scene in this film and all the portrayals are terrific. Farr and Hopkins have excellent on-screen chemistry and Hartnell is brilliant as the sleazy businessman who faces ruin should his secrets come out. But it is Lorre who nearly steals the show as a blindly faithful would-be killer. A must! From 35mm.
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