This is another Film whose Basic Plot and Characters Fit Neatly in the Noir Genre, but Not Entirely, due to Common Ingredients and Intrusions that keep this from Pure Film-Noir. Film-Noir was Truly an Inspired Zeitgeist of the Creative Filmmakers and this is an Example that included Scenes and Elements that would be Absent if it was a Conscious Crafting or a Beforehand Decision. No One stood Around Hollywood and said, "Let's make a Film-Noir". The Genre was Defined After the Fact and was Created in a Spontaneous, Subconscious, and a Collective, Creative Style that Emerged Without Pretense.The Sappy Ending, the awkward Comedy Relief, and other Conventional Mainstream Tropes are some of the Reasons that keep this in the Peripheral Noir. Although, Certain Actors, Cinematographers, and Directors seem Naturally at home in the Film-Noir Genre.Here We have Zachary Scott, whose Oddly Handsome Looks have a Patina of Psychopathy. James Wong Howe behind the Camera was a Stylist of the First Order. Style is something that Noir Embellishes a lot More than its Studio System Sisters and here He Paints some Eerie Pictures.Director Florey also Fits as some of His Films have Dark, Demented Elements and He is at His Best when He goes Off Beat from the Path of Safe used so Often and Tend to be Boring, Redundant, and Unremarkable.Faye Emerson gets Top Billing and Passes as a Conflicted Wall Flower Who Undergoes a Change from Romantically Naive Working Girl, complete with big Horn Rimmed Glasses residing in Her Mom's Protective and Loving Home. Mona Freeman is also Pretty and pretty Good as the Better Looking, but Young Girl Caught in the Killer's Charming but Lethal Web. Rosemary De Camp is quite Effective delivering Trendy Psychiatric Jargon with a Heavy Accent.Overall, there are Enough Noir Ingredients to Qualify Inclusion in the Genre, but it's Not Purebred. Still Enjoyable for its Above Average Triangular Melodrama. It's a bit Short and could have used more Breathing Room to Expand the Things that Worked and would have Improved on its Noir Status Without the Audience Friendly Stuff.

Kudos to the unnamed stuntman who (as the Ronnie Mason character) near the end of the film takes a tough fall over the cliff and lands in the ocean at an angle. I really cringed.Also, like others I found the acting, direction, camera work and overall atmosphere in this film were terrific. Two caveats though:First, as noted, the ending was indeed too pat and a little sugary. Second, Anne went through some some real difficult to believe 180 degree turn arounds in this film . She quickly goes from the family devoted, all-American girl next door--to a seemingly older person who immediately assumes all of the worst about her sister--to (at the end) the innocent high school girl unaffected by what should have been deeply troubling events.

Caught this film on TCM in the early A.M. It was amazing.Starting out slow but ominously.... Scott is a shady character who preys on women. In this case, two women who happen to be due an inheritance in Southern California.The sets of the beach and neighborhoods of the 1940's are original and intriguing. The title may have been more creative, but the theme and nefarious shadows of human nature are intriguingly exposed, almost in a Hitchcockian version.Scott reminded me of the character Uncle Charley in "Shadow of a Doubt", one of Hitch's reputed favorite films. The audience learns,we truly do not know what lurks in the dark side of the human mind.This film is a displaced gem and well-worth purchasing. 10/10.

This film was full of suspense and was well directed, the black and white effect made it a great mystery. Fay Emerson,(Hilda Fenchurch) who was married twice to the famous musician Skitch Henderson and also the son of Elliott Roosevelt, (FDR's Son) fell madly in love with Zachary Scott( Ronnie Mason/Marsh). Ronnie wins the hearts of all the ladies in the picture, even Mona Freeman(Anne Fenchurch) and proposes marriage whenever he can. Rosemary DeCamp (Dr. Jane Silla)(famous radio and tv actress in the 30's and 40's played mostly small town MOM'S) warned the ladies about Ronnie Mason's sick mind, and the abusive childhood he had when growing up, which caused his love/hate relationship with women. Fay Emerson and Zachary Scott would have been greater stars with more rewarding roles, but their lives were short lived in real life. This film is beyond critizing, it is a trully great 1945 film classic for many generations to view and enjoy!