Fallen Angel (1945)

Fallen Angel
Directed by Otto Preminger
Written by Harry Kleiner from a novel by Mary Holland
1945/USA
Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation
First viewing/Netflix rental

[box] June Mills: “Then love alone can make the fallen angel rise. For only two together can enter Paradise.”[/box]

This was billed as Alice Faye’s first turn as a dramatic actress but actually proved to be a breakout performance by the 22-year-old Linda Darnell in her new incarnation as a “bad girl”.  Boy, does she sizzle!

Con-man Eric Stanton (Dana Andrews) arrives in the California beach town of Walton (think Pismo Beach) with a dollar in his pocket.  He stops in a diner for a cup of coffee and is immediately obsessed by sullen beauty Stella (Darnell), who has already captivated every other guy hanging around the place.  He interests her too but she insists on a ring and a home with someone who can provide for her.  He decides the best way of getting the money is to steal it and proceeds to woo good-girl heiress June Mills (Faye) to get access to her safe deposit box.

June is an easy mark.  Even after Eric skips out on their wedding night to see Stella, she forgives and supports her man.  He needs all the support he can get when Stella turns up murdered.  With Charles Bickford and Bruce Cabot as Stella’s admirers, Percy Kilbride as the owner of the diner, John Carradine as a phony medium, and Ann Revere as June’s sister.

This is probably more of a true film noir than Preminger’s Laura of the previous year.  It is highlighted by some subtle and fluid long takes and beautiful lighting.  I love Darnell in this kind of role in which she gets to be very sexy and deeply cynical all at the same time.

Clip – cinematography by Joseph LaShelle

Trailer