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Black Angel

1946, Movie, NR, 80 mins

Black Angel: Review

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Interesting film noir starring Vincent as a woman who tries to clear her estranged husband's name after he is convicted and sentenced to death for the murder of his nightclub singer lover. The only clue to the crime is a missing, heart-shaped brooch that had been stolen from the victim. Vincent suspects that the dead woman's husband, alcoholic songwriter Duryea, actually committed the murder, but she finds that his alibi is airtight. He was on a bender that night, so he had a friend lock him in his room. Duryea decides to help Vincent, and together they get a job as a nightclub act (she singing, he playing piano) in sleazy Lorre's bar. Lorre had known the dead woman and is known to be heavily involved in the underworld, but police detective Crawford tells the pair that he cannot be the murderer because the cops had been tailing him that night. Meanwhile, Duryea has fallen in love with Vincent and tells her so. She gently tells him that she is still in love with her husband and cannot become involved. This sends the crushed Duryea back to the bottle, and, in an alcoholic haze, he suddenly remembers that he did indeed kill his wife while he was drunk and blocked the incident from his mind. The songwriter turns himself in to free Vincent's husband, and is led off to jail resigned to his fate. Though somewhat melodramatic, the film has a dense visual style with terrific opening and closing camera movements that sweep across the action. The opening shot directly foreshadows the ending, wrapping the film in a circular pattern that reflects the mystery itself. Stark shadows and gloomy lighting are typical of this genre and are used to full effect. The acting by all players is outstanding, and Duryea's re-living of the murder through an almost surrealistic haze is superb. leave a comment
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