Post by Brad Nelson on Jun 19, 2020 16:32:26 GMT -8
After about three or four stinkers in a row on The Criterion Channel, I was wondering when I would come across something worthwhile. And note that I'm trying already to be selective.
Nineteen thirty-nine’s Blind Alley finally came through with something half decent.
The setup of this is going to sound gimmicky and stupid. But trust me that this plays out much better than it sounds. Ralph Bellamy plays a psychoanalyst professor with the tweed jacket and pipe. He’s the perfect stereotype. But they don’t turn him into a caricature. This is somewhat restrained in that regard.
Chester Morris plays the murderous escaped convict, Hal Wilson. He took the warden as a hostage and made his escape. I’m not sure where this movie is set, but we’ll assume it’s on one of the Great Lakes. The second part of Morris’ escape plan is to wait for a boat coming from the lake.
I don’t remember how he settled on it, but he chose the lakefront house of Dr. Shelby (Ralph Bellamy) as the staging area for his escape. He and his gang of three or four others barge in and take Dr. Shelby and his several house guests hostage.
Now the funny part. And it’s only appropriate to the subject matter that you do a little psychoanalyzing of me as I describe this. Should I have found this one scene funny or is there something wrong with me? Do I have father issues? Mother issues?
At the opening of the movie, we meet one of Dr. Shelby’s prize students, happy-go-lucky Fred Landis (Stanley Brown). Landis, with help of his professor, has landed a prime job fresh out of college. He's in Dr. Shelby's office saying his goodbyes to everyone and plans to stop by Dr. Shelby’s residence later to say his final goodbyes. (Boy, does he.)
He does how up later. But by this time, Hal Wilson and his mob have taken everyone hostage. And they proceed to take Fred Landis hostage as well when he comes knockig on the door. Basically this movie is a what-not-to-do guide for hostage survival. Fred immediately gives one of Hal Wilson’s underlings some heavy lip like “You wouldn’t be so tough without that gun. Let’s say you put it down and we have this out like men.”
Interestingly enough, Hal’s criminal associate does put down the gun and promptly gets his ass kicked by the college boy. College boy then turns around and gives the same lip of “I bet you’re not so tough without that gun” to Hal Wilson who promptly shoots him dead.
Okay, maybe that doesn’t sound like a stand-up act. But you had to see it. I tell you, it was funny. Maybe Ralph Bellamy can psychoanalyze me and tell me why I found it so.
Anyway, it’s clear that Hal Wilson has murderous intent and it seems likely he will cover his tracks, if you know what I mean, when the boat comes. And Dr. Shelby understands this as well and is thus motivated to unravel his mind. He then, in fits and starts, starts to psychoanalyze Hal Wilson.
The brilliant part of this movie (and probably the only reason it works) is the fantastic performance by Chester Morris. Only James Cagney would have pulled it off with the same intensity and not make it look silly. Morris rides that ragged edge (as does Bellamy at times, whose overt calmness does seem a little silly at times). But he pulls it off in splendid fashion.
The rest you’ll have to guess at. This is a movie worth watching even though it sounds like a one-horse gimmick. But as it plays out, it stays much more interesting.
There’s a 1948 remake of this called The Dark Past with William Holden as the criminal and Lee J. Cobb as the doctor. It might be worth watching just for that cast. But apparently Blind Alley is a much stronger picture, so I would start with that version.
Nineteen thirty-nine’s Blind Alley finally came through with something half decent.
The setup of this is going to sound gimmicky and stupid. But trust me that this plays out much better than it sounds. Ralph Bellamy plays a psychoanalyst professor with the tweed jacket and pipe. He’s the perfect stereotype. But they don’t turn him into a caricature. This is somewhat restrained in that regard.
Chester Morris plays the murderous escaped convict, Hal Wilson. He took the warden as a hostage and made his escape. I’m not sure where this movie is set, but we’ll assume it’s on one of the Great Lakes. The second part of Morris’ escape plan is to wait for a boat coming from the lake.
I don’t remember how he settled on it, but he chose the lakefront house of Dr. Shelby (Ralph Bellamy) as the staging area for his escape. He and his gang of three or four others barge in and take Dr. Shelby and his several house guests hostage.
Now the funny part. And it’s only appropriate to the subject matter that you do a little psychoanalyzing of me as I describe this. Should I have found this one scene funny or is there something wrong with me? Do I have father issues? Mother issues?
At the opening of the movie, we meet one of Dr. Shelby’s prize students, happy-go-lucky Fred Landis (Stanley Brown). Landis, with help of his professor, has landed a prime job fresh out of college. He's in Dr. Shelby's office saying his goodbyes to everyone and plans to stop by Dr. Shelby’s residence later to say his final goodbyes. (Boy, does he.)
He does how up later. But by this time, Hal Wilson and his mob have taken everyone hostage. And they proceed to take Fred Landis hostage as well when he comes knockig on the door. Basically this movie is a what-not-to-do guide for hostage survival. Fred immediately gives one of Hal Wilson’s underlings some heavy lip like “You wouldn’t be so tough without that gun. Let’s say you put it down and we have this out like men.”
Interestingly enough, Hal’s criminal associate does put down the gun and promptly gets his ass kicked by the college boy. College boy then turns around and gives the same lip of “I bet you’re not so tough without that gun” to Hal Wilson who promptly shoots him dead.
Okay, maybe that doesn’t sound like a stand-up act. But you had to see it. I tell you, it was funny. Maybe Ralph Bellamy can psychoanalyze me and tell me why I found it so.
Anyway, it’s clear that Hal Wilson has murderous intent and it seems likely he will cover his tracks, if you know what I mean, when the boat comes. And Dr. Shelby understands this as well and is thus motivated to unravel his mind. He then, in fits and starts, starts to psychoanalyze Hal Wilson.
The brilliant part of this movie (and probably the only reason it works) is the fantastic performance by Chester Morris. Only James Cagney would have pulled it off with the same intensity and not make it look silly. Morris rides that ragged edge (as does Bellamy at times, whose overt calmness does seem a little silly at times). But he pulls it off in splendid fashion.
The rest you’ll have to guess at. This is a movie worth watching even though it sounds like a one-horse gimmick. But as it plays out, it stays much more interesting.
There’s a 1948 remake of this called The Dark Past with William Holden as the criminal and Lee J. Cobb as the doctor. It might be worth watching just for that cast. But apparently Blind Alley is a much stronger picture, so I would start with that version.