Odd and very Strange Film-Noir. An Independent Production with a Low-Budget but High on Expressionism and Striking Scenes of Low-Brow, Everyday People in Their Environment.John Ireland and Mercedes McCambridge are an Iconic Noir Couple. He of Intensity showing a Film-Noir Staple, Amnesia. Escaping from a Mental Institution and Confused about His Guilt (imprisoned for strangling a girl with a scarf and deemed "criminally insane").McCambridge shows up in a Flashback (another Noir staple) Hitch-Hiking on a Road to Nowhere (a gig as a singer/waitress in a Dive). Her Nickname says it all, "Cash and Carry Connie". She is as Odd as Ireland with Her "Common and Unclassical" Look, Speaking in Short Clipped Sentences that Reveal Street Knowledge, Strength and a Fearful Cynical Attitude.The Settings are Dismal and Bleak (prison, turkey ranch, and bar). James Barton, as the Turkey Ranch Owner, takes Ireland Under His Wing as the Search for the Truth Unfolds. All of the Characters in this Noir World are Offbeat and Interesting. Besides Our "Heroes", the Cops, Doctors, Farmer, Bar-Keep, and even the Piano Player are Bizarre and Noir.Overall, this is an Off-Kilter Movie in every sense. Disturbing, Other Wordly, Shady, and Weird. Mercedes McCambridge, in this Underseen Gem, can Walk Alongside Ann Savage in "Detour" (1945) as a Quintessential B-Girl in a B-Movie with Style, Shocks, and Suspense. One of Film-Noir's Least Known and Unacknowledged Entries.

John Ireland and Mercedes McCambridge who were together in All The King's Men are cast together in The Scarf. Ireland plays an escapee from a mental asylum who is there because he strangled a woman allegedly. Mercedes McCambridge plays a woman who helps him out as does James Barton who gives him refuge at his turkey ranch.Ireland reasons that while he has no memory of the event he also has no feelings of guilt and would if he actually did the deed. From this premise he seeks answers.A lot of very good players are in this story, but it could have been a lot better plotted than it was. I was also not satisfied with the ending, it was definitely a let down. It's also obvious who the real killer is.Fans of any of the cast members should like The Scarf, but it definitely deserved better writing and direction.

This is probably best described as a psychological thriller, although, it does not have too many thrills. It does have a trio of lead characters that are fun to watch. John Ireland (Hero or Villain?), Mercedes McCambridge (Sexy Girl who's not as tough as she thinks) and Ezra Thompson (cynical desert hermit who's not as cynical as he thinks)give delightful and skillful performances.There's nice cinematography and good direction here. The dialog is generally clever and snappy. The musical score works well to accent the scenes with a sense of humor and some suspense.The narrative could have been a little tighter. The relationship of Ireland and McCambridge takes a long time to define. The first 3/4ths of the film moves rather slowly, and the final 1/4 of the film seems too quick with too many twists. There are plot holes that stand out much more now than they probably did in 1951. For example, how did they know that Mercedes' laughing would set off the bad guy and cause him to reveal himself. Still, it is no more gimmicky than "Spellbound" or other Hitchcock psychological crime stories of the period.If you're a fan of the 1950's-60's television show "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" you'll probably enjoy this film a lot.

This is an oddly engaging B noir largely because of an interesting if motley and disparate cast of actors; the story hardly warrants close inspection.There's John Ireland, not quite up to leading man status and yet curiously suited to this role. A young feisty Mercedes McCambridge struts her stuff endearingly. James Barton gives a warm and thoroughly convincing portrayal as the farmer content to be far from the madding crowd. Lastly there's English actor Emyln Williams turning in a pedantic performance, ludicrously out of place. There's no conceiving him and the John Ireland character ever having been "best friends". He tells Ms. McCambridge "you're a beautiful woman.." which is also somewhat of a stretch.Minor spoiler alert ahead:In keeping with the off kilter tone of this whole project, we should not be surprised to witness John Ireland choosing to spend his future on the farm with cello playing, book loving, though still macho old James Barton, rather than take up with torch song singing waitress McCambridge.Quite an oddity..