Monthly Archives: December 2023

I Wouldn’t Be in Your Shoes
Directed by William Nigh
Written by Steve Fisher; story by Cornell Woolrich
1948/US
Monogram Studios
IMDb page
First viewing/Criterion Channel

Inspector Stevens: I’ve been on the police force for twenty-five years. I’ve turned in some honeys for indictment, but never in all that time have I had such an unbeatable, airtight case as I’ve got against you.

This was the next in line for holiday noirs. The story of this Poverty-Row B movie’s sole connection to the holidays is that a key development occurs on Christmas Eve.

Tom (Don Castle) and Ann (Elyse Knox) are married and perform as a dance team when they have work. Castle is currently unemployed and Knox works at a dance studio which seems more like a dime a dance place. When Tom foolishly throws his only shoes at a cat, he becomes embroiled in a murder investigation. Ann starts a private investigation of her own. With Regis Toomey as a detective.

This movie is my definition of meh. With the exception of Toomey the acting is bad, the plot is predictable, and the melodramatic music is annoying.

Backfire
Directed by Vincent Sherman
Written by Lawrence B. Marcus, Ivan Goff and Ben Robert’s
1950/US
Warner Bros.
IMDb page
First viewing/Criterion Channel

Police Captain Garcia: [to Sgt. Pluther, who’s firing at a fleeing suspect] Hold it. You’re liable to hit a taxpayer.

The next in the holiday-themed films noir takes place during the holidays, providing some Christmas music and decorations but little relevance to the plot.

Veterans Gordon McCrea and Edmund O’Brien are best buddies and dream of buying a ranch once McCrea gets out of the veterans hospital. McCrea and nurse Virginia Mayo are sweethearts.

O’Brien goes missing and is accused of murder. McCrea conducts his own investigation. With Dana Clark as a friend and Ed Begley as a police detective.

This is one of those movies where the action is constantly interrupted by flashbacks. Not my favorite. Otherwise it’s quite watchable.

Repeat Performance
Directed by Alfred L. Werker
Written by Walter Bullock from a novel by William O’Farrol
1947/US
Bryan Foy Productions
IMDb page
First viewing/Criterion Channel

William Williams: Destiny’s a stubborn old girl. She doesn’t like people interfering with her plans. Anyway, I don’t think she cares about the pattern as long as the result is the same.

So glad to be reunited with my TV screen!  Criterion Channel has a collection of holiday-themed films noir this month and I’m starting with this one.

As the film begins actress Sheila Page (Joan Leslie) and her evil alcoholic husband Barney (Louis Hayward) are hosting a party to ring in 1947.  Before they can even greet their guests, Sheila murders Barney (not a spoiler, this happens within the first couple of minutes).  Sheila immediately regrets this and wishes that she could relive 1946 and undo many of the things that happened.  Surprise, her wish is granted!  But can she foil the Fickle Finger of Fate?  With Richard Basehart as her evidently gay poet friend and Tim Conway as a Broadway producer.

Basehart was so good in his film debut that he ended up third on the bill.  Despite some gaping plot holes, it is interesting.  This was a venture of Poverty Row distributor Eagle-Lion films into “prestige” filmmaking. It was long thought to be a lost film.