I’m clean as a peeled egg. No debts, no angry husbands, no payoffs… nothin’.
Hello to all of the classic people that are returning. I am glad you are back. I want to welcome any new visitors. There will be spoilers ahead. Today on Classic Movie Review, we are taking on Film Noir The Dark Corner (1946).
Based on a suggestion, I will cover In the Heat of the Night (1967) as a tribute to Sidney Poitier next time. Keep writing in and sending recommendations and observations.
After watching Being the Ricardos (2021), I wanted to find out what kind of actress Lucille Ball really was. I located The Dark Corner (1946), which just happened to be a Film Noir, and thought this would be a great place to find out.
Today’s film has a decent 7.1 rating[1] on iMDB.com. On Rottentomatoes.com, the film has a 100 percent on the Tomatometer and 71 percent audience approval[2].
New York Time film critic Bosley Crowther said in a May 9, 1946 review:
“When a talented director and a resourceful company of players meet up with a solid story, say one such as “The Dark Corner,” then movie-going becomes a particular pleasure…is a tough-fibered, exciting entertainment revolving around a private detective who is marked as the fall guy in a cleverly contrived murder plot…The action, and there is plenty of it, is violent and explosive, starting with a going-over Galt gives a mysterious toughie who has been shadowing him. This character is identified only as White Suit, obviously because he affects such a suit and he is played with rugged naturalness by William Bendix. In fact, Director Henry Hathaway has drawn superior performances from most of the cast. Lucille Ball has one of her happier roles as an acid-tongued secretary who shares the private eye’s troubles, and Clifton Webb has another chance as an art gallery proprietor to indulge his talent for acerbic characters. …A strikingly good-looking girl named Cathy Downs is introduced as a sort of second “Laura” in Mr. Webb’s cinematic marital affairs, but she is badly in need of dramatic training. …And he happily eschewed murky photography for mood effect, using instead a muted and highly evocative musical score. His fine craftsmanship is very evident throughout “The Dark Corner,” and it is regrettable that he had to mar the atmospheric realism by resorting to scene-faking in a few sequences. But this is a minor shortcoming in an otherwise sizzling piece of melodrama.”[3]
Actors – The Dark Corner (1946)
Returning
Clifton Webb played art dealer and owner of Cathcart Galeries, Hardy Cathcart. Webb played this role with the same snobbery he showed so well in Laura (1944), where he was first covered, and in The Razor’s Edge (1946). He truly is a guy you love to hate.
William Bendix played the role of Stauffer, aka Fred Foss, an investigator with a decidedly seedy side. Bendix was first covered playing a hardened detective in Detective Story (1951).
Popping in a small uncredited role as the maid that found the body was Ellen Corby. Corby was first covered in Illegal (1955).
New
Lucille Ball played tough-as-nails secretary Kathleen Stewart. Ball was born in New York state in 1911. From a large family, Ball left home when she was 15. She attended drama school in New York but did not excel. Ball became a model and, by 1935, was working for Max Factor.
Ball began with minimal roles in movies beginning in 1933. She had a bit in the very good pre-code film Blood Money (1933). It took time, but better roles slowly came in. These films include Top Hat (1935), Stage Door (1937), Too Many Girls (1940), The Big Street (1942), Du Barry Was a Lady (1943), Best Foot Forward (1943), and Without Love (1945).
In 1940, she met and married Cuban actor and singer Desi Arnaz. In 1948, Ball took a role in a radio comedy titled “My Favorite Husband.” In 1950, CBS converted the radio show into “I Love Lucy” 1951-1957. Desi was cast as her husband on the show.
The marriage was rocky, but they continued onward with “The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour” 1957-1960. During this time, Ball was briefly investigated for registering as a Communist.
Ball and Desi owned Desilu Productions by this time, making Ball the first female head of her own studio. During this time, Ball was responsible for green-lighted “The Untouchables” 1959-1963, “Mission: Impossible” 1966-1973, and god bless her “Star Trek” 1966-1969.
Ball filed for divorce in 1960, and the studio was divided between the couple and its stockholders. Ball sold the studio for 17 million in 1967.
Ball more or less revived her Lucy character in “Here’s Lucy” 1968-1974. Other movies made during the later years include The Dark Corner (1946), Lured (1947), Fancy Pants (1950), Yours, Mine and Ours (1968), and that god awful Mame (1974). Ball died in 1989 at the age of 77.
Mark Stevens played suffering private investigator Bradford Galt. Stevens was born in Ohio in 1916. Stevens had an American father but was sent to live in England when his parents divorced. After having trouble in school, he was sent to Canada to live with his older sister.
Stevens injured his back while training to be an Olympic diver for Canada. This exempted him from service in World War II. Stevens returned to Ohio and began working in theater and radio. Being ineligible for active duty, Stevens was well-positioned to work in Hollywood with many leading men begin away serving the country, except for John Wayne. Stevens had his first film role in 1943. He was positioned in the background in films such as Destination Tokyo (1943), Hollywood Canteen (1944), Passage to Marseille (1944), God Is My Co-Pilot (1945), Objective, Burma! (1945), Pride of the Marines (1945), Rhapsody in Blue (1945), and Within These Walls (1945).
Stevens obtained some more significant roles in Film Noirs such as Within These Walls (1945), The Dark Corner (1946), and The Street with No Name (1948). He continued appearing in war films, Film Noirs, musicals, and dramas. Some films during this time include The Snake Pit (1948), Between Midnight and Dawn (1950), The Big Frame (1952), Cry Vengeance (1954), and Time Table (1956). Stevens was pretty active on television during the 1950s.
Stevens eventually moved to Spain, but he continued to work intermittently. He died in Spain at the age of 77 in 1994.
Story – The Dark Corner (1946)
In New York, a man in a white suit, Stauffer, aka Fred Foss (William Bendix), is watching the office of Bradford Galt (Mark Stevens) private investigators. A Police Lt. Frank Reeves (Reed Hadley) enters Galt’s office. He begins questioning the secretary Kathleen Stewart (Lucille Ball). Kathleen is New York City tough and evades answering about her boss.
Galt comes into his office through the back door. Galt knows Reeves. Reeves says he promised his friends in California that Galt won’t get into trouble. Galt says he got a bad rap in California. Reeves leaves him with a warning to stay clean.
After Reeves leaves, Galt invites Kathleen to have dinner with him. The couple ends up at an arcade where they play games. Stauffer is keeping an eye on the couple. Kathleen spots the follower. When Kathleen tells that they are being followed, Galt already knows.
Galt puts Kathleen in a cab to circle around and follow Stauffer. Galt ambushes Staffer and forces him to go to the PI office. Galt calls his gun a pepper pot. Under gunpoint, Stauffer identifies that he is Fred Foss and a private investigator. Galt smashes Stauffer’s fingers with the gun butt, and Stauffer says he was hired by Anthony Jardine (Kurt Kreuger). Galt lets Stauffer go.
Kathleen is outside in a cab and almost gets spotted by Stauffer. Kathleen follows Stauffer but loses him in traffic. She returns to the office where Galt is doing some heavy drinking. They get all kissy-faced. Afterward, he warns her to get out of the business.
Anthony Jardine pulls up outside of Cathcart Galleries in top hat and tails. He is ushered into a fancy party hosted by Hardy Cathcart (Clifton Webb) and his much younger wife, Mari Cathcart (Cathy Downs). Hardy and Jardine are good friends.
Jardine sneaks away to meet with Lucy Wilding (Molly Lamont). Apparently, she has paid him off with a Van Gough rather than cash. He returns a stack of letters to Lucy.
Stauffer calls the party and identifies himself as “the guy from San Francisco.” Stauffer says he pretended to break under questioning. The person he talks with is not shown.
Later Stauffer is waiting outside of the High Hat Club. Galt and Kathleen are at a table inside. Galt is distracted, and Kathleen is falling in love. Galt warns her to get out before it is too late. Lt. Reeves enters the club. Galt tells Reeves he wants to talk. Galt tells Reeves about the trouble coming from Jardine. Galt and Kathleen dance the night away as she won’t take the hint to get out before it is too late.
Later that night, outside Kathleen’s place, Stauffer tries to run Galt down with his car. Kathleen and Galt go into a café to recover. A newspaper boy gives him a partial license plate from the attempted hit-and-run vehicle.
Stauffer arrives outside of Cathcart Galleries and switches cars. Jardine and Cathcart are inside plotting. Cathcart goes out to buy a painting. Mari watches from the balcony. Jardine leaves in the car that Stauffer used when he tried to run down Galt.
Kathleen and Galt wait for the police report on the license number. Galt tells Kathleen the story of Jardine. They were partners in San Francisco. Jardine was blackmailing clients and stealing from the firm. When Galt confronted him, they went on a drive to pick up the stolen money. Jardine slugged Galt and poured booze all over him. Jardine placed Galt behind the wheel and sent him into traffic. A truck driver was killed, and Galt got two years for manslaughter.
The call comes in, and it seems Jardine is behind the attack. He storms out and leaves Kathleen behind.
Jardine is in his place looking at the Van Gough he got through skullduggery. Mari arrives, and she and Jardine are “very good” friends. Mari complains that her marriage to Cathcart is not enough. Mari asks to go away with Jardine, but he balks at the plan.
Jardine’s doorbell buzzes, and Mira hides in the bedroom. At the door is Galt, and he is piping mad. There is no love lost between the two men. Jardine tries to pull a gun, but Galt gets to his first. Galt tells Jardine to pull the tail and leave him alone. Jardine says he did not hire a tail, and he is not after Galt in any way. The two men get into a fistfight, and Galt quickly gains the upper hand. Mari calls the police.
After Galt knocks out Jardine, he sees the lipstick-smeared glass that Mari was drinking from. Galt tries to get into the bedroom but hears the police coming, and he has to leave. Jardine wakes and sends Mira outside before the police find her in his apartment. Jardine tells the police that nothing has happened. However, they see the apartment is roughed up. Under pressure, Jardine gives up Galt’s name.
Galt returns to his apartment, and Kathleen is waiting in the shadows for his return. They go upstairs, and Galt explains what has happened.
At the Cathcart Galleries exhibit, Cathcart is catering to the wealthy ladies. Cathcart takes a group to the vault to show a recently obtained painting. Jardine and Mari go along for the viewing. Cathcart is very proud of the painting. The woman in the picture looks like Mari. Jardine sees dollar signs. He and Mari have a quick kiss, and Cathcart overhears their plans to run away together.
When Cathcart returns to his office Stauffer is waiting. Cathcart has paid Stauffer to trick Galt into killing Jardine. So far, their plans have not worked, and Stauffer wants to just shoot Jardine.
Stauffer calls Galt at his office. Stauffer says he will tell what Jardine is up to for two yards powder money, meaning he will leave town for $200. Their meeting is set for Galt’s apartment. Cathcart says he can get Jardine to the meeting.
Galt stashes Kathleen in a theater while he goes to the meeting. She is not happy.
Stauffer climbs the fire escape to Galt’s apartment. He waits in the dark with chloroform ready. Galt walks into the trap and is eventually subdued. Jardine arrives at the apartment, and Stauffer kills him with a fireplace iron. He places the iron in the hand of the passed-out Galt. Before he leaves, he stomps Galt’s hand as payback.
As Kathleen rings the buzzer, Galt wakes to find the murdered Jardine. He finally lets her inside, and she is shocked by the murder. Kathleen wants Galt to call the cops. Galt drags the body away as Kathleen looks for clues and straightens up the apartment. Of course, including getting rid of the evidence. Galt can’t believe she is helping, never even asking if he really killed Jardine. They get all kissy-face and swear undying love.
Galt finally realizes that Jardine was not the person after him. Galt and Kathleen head out to look for Stauffer. Kathleen pulls the info on Stauffer, and they head to his ratty apartment. Galt goes in with a gun, but it is not the right guy. Galt is despondent.
Stauffer calls in a favorable report to Cathcart. He goes to Mari’s room, where she is packing to leave. She pretends to be in bed with a headache. He confronts her about Jardine, but she plays it cool. Cathcart implies that he will payoff Jardine, and he will go away. Mari gets upset when Cathcart starts talking about an affair between Jardine and Lucy Wilding. Galt wakes in the morning at Kathleen’s apartment. There is nothing in the paper about Jardine’s murder. Galt is broken, but Kathleen props him up. Jardine’s body is still under Galt’s bed. At last, Galt realizes he can find Stauffer because of the ink stain on his suit. Galt and Kathleen head out to check the big cleaning operations.
Stauffer is holed up in his apartment but goes down to call into Cathcart. Cathcart is concerned because nothing is in the paper. Cathcart tells Stauffer to meet him at his dental appointment at 3pm.
Galt and Kathleen wait at the office as the search for the suit was a bust. Lt. Reeves shows up to talk to Galt about the fight with Jardine, but there is nothing about a murder. They get a call from a cleaner and now have Stuffer’s address.
A new maid (Ellen Corby) is cleaning Galt’s apartment. She lets out a wail as she finds Jardine’s body.
Galt goes to Stauffer’s apartment, but he is already gone. A little child tells where she heard Stauffer say he was going.
Stauffer meets Cathcart at the Grant Building. Cathcart pretends to pay Stauffer off but shoves him out the building window. Cathcart heads up the stairs to his dental appointment.
Galt arrives at the building as the police investigate the dead body smashed onto the sidewalk. The cabbie says that Stauffer took a Brodie. There will be more on this in the conclusions.
Galt steals the cab that contains Stauffer’s luggage. The police follow in hot pursuit. Galt makes it back to the office, where he and Kathleen search in vain for identification. Galt breaks down again, but Kathleen keeps working on the problem. It comes out that the little girl said Stauffer was going to get his cascara at the gallery. Kathleen remembers the gallery. The police show up at the office, and Galt heads out the back with the gallery as his destination. The police now know about Jardine’s murder.
Galt goes into the gallery and begins touring with Miss. Dennis (Eloise Hardt). He describes Stauffer, and she has never seen the man around the gallery.
Cathcart takes a bag down to the vault while Galt pretends to shop. After saying he will buy a $45,000 statue, Galt asks to see the owner. Miss. Dennis leaves Galt in the office, saying Cathcart is in the vault. Miss. Dennis tells Cathcart that a buyer is waiting in his office. Galt uses this time to search for clues.
Mari comes into the office looking for her husband. Galt tells her that her husband will be back from the vault in a moment. He checks out her gams as he begins to put the case together. Galt begins asking about Jardine. He tells Mari that Jardine has been murdered. She blurts out that her husband is responsible for the death. She passes out. Galt places her on the office sofa.
Cathcart comes in holding a gun and demanding he take his hands off his wife. Cathcart disarms Galt and takes him downstairs to be murdered. Galt reveals that Cathcart was responsible for Jardine’s murder and possibly for killing Stauffer.
Inside the vault, Cathcart is about to shoot Galt when he is gunned down by his wife, who is now standing at the top of the stairs. She emptied the revolver and threw the empty gun at her husband. That’s good hate.
Lt. Reeves gives the story to the press and lets Galt go. Kathleen says they will be late in the morning as they are getting married.
Conclusion – The Dark Corner (1946)
I picked up three new noir or norish phrases from this movie. The first is when Galt has a gun under his hat when confronting Stauffer. Galt calls the revolver a pepper pot. The second is Stauffer asks for two yards of powder money, meaning he will leave town for $200. Finally, after the suicide, a taxi driver said I didn’t know he would pull a Steven Brody. Apparently, it is believed that Steven Brody jumped off the Brooklyn Bridge in 1886. Since he survived, a Brody is considered taking a big chance.[4]
World-Famous Short Summary – a woman extracts a high price for her support
Beware the moors.
[1] The Dark Corner (1946) – IMDb
[2] The Dark Corner – Rotten Tomatoes
[3] THE SCREEN IN REVIEW; ‘The DarkCorner,’ in Which Lucille Ball Appear – The New York Times
[4] What does take a brody mean? take a brody Definition. Meaning of take a brody. OnlineSlangDictionary.com
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