Very very predictable, including the post credit scene !!!
View MoreIt’s fine. It's literally the definition of a fine movie. You’ve seen it before, you know every beat and outcome before the characters even do. Only question is how much escapism you’re looking for.
View MoreTrue to its essence, the characters remain on the same line and manage to entertain the viewer, each highlighting their own distinctive qualities or touches.
View MoreOne of the most extraordinary films you will see this year. Take that as you want.
View MoreTrim little noir actually benefits from its small budget since it necessitates a focus on the main story with little extemporaneous exposition. Intriguing premise is well directed by the little known Welker and well played by most of the cast. The one weakness of the story is in the main character's devotion to a husband who is nothing more than a venal lout. She tells other characters in the film what a good guy he use to be but all we see is an incredible jerk that she is clearly too good for and her almost super human patience with him borders on sadomasochism. That aside the picture does sweep you up right from the beginning and keeps you curious about the resolution.The two best performances come from Joan Leslie, as the woman given a second chance to correct a tragic mistake and Richard Basehart as a sort of Greek chorus devoted standby. They are supported by a fine cast who all add nice touches to their scenes. Difficult to find but worth the time to seek out.
View MoreI was excited when I found this website and began looking at some old TV shows and movies. It dawned on me suddenly to looked up the title of this movie and there it was. I am glad to see that I am not the only person who would like to see this movie again. Hopefully it will be made available soon. I remember watching this movie in the eighties when I was very young and I still think about it to this day!!!!!! I only saw it one time and have often wished to see it again. I remember being captivated by this black and white thriller. There is always something spellbinding about someone who is given a chance to change their past.
View MoreInteresting noir that issues from an imaginative premise-- suppose we had a year that we could live all over again. So who wouldn't want that opportunity. Naturally, we could change our own actions to better optimize outcomes, but what about others-- would their actions have to change too. The premise may even require the entire world to live that same year over so as to fit into the changes that ripple out from our own changes. Conceptual questions aside, the premise is simplified here into a rather clever soap-operish plot— namely, can sympathetic Sheila (Leslie) avoid killing her louse husband (Hayward) a second time around. That is, can she maybe just ignore his many provocations, given a second chance.Instead of playing up occult aspects, the screenplay concentrates on revolving relationships among sophisticated show-business types. It's a good cast, especially an agreeably addled Richard Basehart. However, I'm not sure the sweetly gentle Leslie has the gravitas for a difficult role, especially for the wronged woman part. Still, she certainly wins our sympathy. Director Werker films in noirish style lending the visuals a suitably twilight quality. The ending too is appropriate, without obvious cheating on the premise.The movie seems more obscure than deserved and I'm not sure why. It certainly made an impression on me on first viewing many years ago. I suspect the obscurity is because of a B- movie cast-- no matter how accomplished—and a non-studio pedigree. But whatever the reason, the film remains a thought provoking 90-minutes even this many years after.
View MoreI just saw this film play in a 16mm copy last Friday night ~Jan 25 '08. The brochure stated that there were no usable 35mm prints good enough for playing on a big screen.It played at The Castro Theatre in San Francisco. Also playing with another unreleased to DVD Joan Leslie movie "The Hard Way"This well thought out movie has it all. It doesn't sell out the possibilities that could go wrong or against you if you were living it.The main actors in this stylish film noir romp all were credible in their motives and actions. Seeing Natalie Schafer from Gilligan's Island fame was funny playing a scheming and controlling diva of the arts world. Tom Conway as "everybody's big brother" had a part that he owned. Louis Hayward as the cheating husband and Virginia Field who was playing along with the dangerous and cheating fun. You could tell that there were sparks between them. Those same sparks were missing in the married relationship with Joan.Basehart was great in his first film role. There were some outrageous corny lines of dialogue that had the audience laughing along with the scene when it wasn't supposed to be funny on screen. But, overall he nailed it in a crucial part.I hope that this comes to DVD soon while Joan is still around. It would be even more astounding if she herself gave a running commentary to it!!!
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