The File On Thelma Jordon

1950, Movie, NR, 100 mins

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When Stanwyck approaches assistant DA Corey after office hours one night to discuss some attempted break-ins at the home of her wealthy aunt, Corey falls in love with her and they have an affair, though Corey is married. Stanwyck, too, is married (to Rober) and later cites this as her reason for ending the liaison. One night a chain of circumstances leads Corey to the home of Stanwyck's aunt, where he finds the aunt dead, the safe looted, and Stanwyck cleaning up the scene of the crime. She explains that she is removing evidence of Rober's guilt. Corey tells her to go to bed and pretend to be sleeping, then he escapes before the police arrive. Stanwyck is subsequently accused of her aunt's murder, and Corey is assigned to prosecute. He pays for her lawyer and has her acquitted, but Stanwyck then prepares to leave town with Rober, telling Corey that their affair was a setup from the start. Rober knocks out the DA and drives away with Stanwyck, who is then overwhelmed by guilt and causes the car to crash through a guardrail and down a cliff. Before she dies, Stanwyck confesses her guilt but does not implicate Corey as the man seen running away from the scene of the crime. Corey himself tells his partner what he has done, however, and winds up as another life ruined by the criminal plot. This Stanwyck vehicle casts her in the familiar role (as in DOUBLE INDEMNITY [1944] and THE STRANGE LOVE OF MARTHA IVERS [1946]) of a selfish manipulator of gullible men. Though not one of director Siodmak's best efforts, the film is nonetheless beautifully crafted in his usual precise manner. leave a comment
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The File On Thelma Jordon
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