InA Lonely Place (1950) – Dixon Steele (Bogart) is a scriptwriter in
need of his next hit. When a woman he dated turns up dead, his
reputation for a violent temper could put him behind bars. Then his
beautiful neighbor (Grahame) clears him. But the longer she knows
him, the more questions arise.
need of his next hit. When a woman he dated turns up dead, his
reputation for a violent temper could put him behind bars. Then his
beautiful neighbor (Grahame) clears him. But the longer she knows
him, the more questions arise.
Directed
by Nicholas Ray Starring- Humphrey Bogart, Gloria Grahame
by Nicholas Ray Starring- Humphrey Bogart, Gloria Grahame
“In
A Lonely Place” is a movie that gets overlooked as it falls between
two later Bogart classics, “Treasure of the Sierra Madre” and
“The Caine Mutiny”. But it’s worth the time to find.
A Lonely Place” is a movie that gets overlooked as it falls between
two later Bogart classics, “Treasure of the Sierra Madre” and
“The Caine Mutiny”. But it’s worth the time to find.
Steele
is a talented writer, but his volatile temper creates problems for
him. He’s arrogant, and that has turned off many people in the
industry. Bogart brings the perfect edge to the character, acerbic, and disdainful. Actress Louise Brooks wrote that this role was the
closest to the real Bogart she ever saw him play on the screen. Dixon
Steele is complex and angry, but given the right relationship, he can
be devoted and loving. In Grahame’s Laurel Gray, Steele finds
someone who can go toe to toe with him and let his creative side
flourish again. The difficulty is that neither are prepared for the
rigors of a serious relationship. It allows doubts to creep in,
creating stress fractures in the bond.
is a talented writer, but his volatile temper creates problems for
him. He’s arrogant, and that has turned off many people in the
industry. Bogart brings the perfect edge to the character, acerbic, and disdainful. Actress Louise Brooks wrote that this role was the
closest to the real Bogart she ever saw him play on the screen. Dixon
Steele is complex and angry, but given the right relationship, he can
be devoted and loving. In Grahame’s Laurel Gray, Steele finds
someone who can go toe to toe with him and let his creative side
flourish again. The difficulty is that neither are prepared for the
rigors of a serious relationship. It allows doubts to creep in,
creating stress fractures in the bond.
The
plot gives you plenty of opportunities to swing from “he did it”
to “did she do it?” to “no, it was him!” and more. The ending
is amazing because it doesn’t sell out the rest of the movie. There
was an alternate ending that adds a heartbreaking touch to it all. If
you have access, I recommend watching that ending as well.
plot gives you plenty of opportunities to swing from “he did it”
to “did she do it?” to “no, it was him!” and more. The ending
is amazing because it doesn’t sell out the rest of the movie. There
was an alternate ending that adds a heartbreaking touch to it all. If
you have access, I recommend watching that ending as well.
Not
critically acclaimed in its day (neither was Treasure) both are
showcases for Bogart at the top of his game. Remember, this movie
stands in the middle of this run:
critically acclaimed in its day (neither was Treasure) both are
showcases for Bogart at the top of his game. Remember, this movie
stands in the middle of this run:
“Key
Largo”, “Treasure of the Sierra Madre”, “In A Lonely Place”,
“The Caine Mutiny” and “The African Queen”. He received Oscar
nominations for both of the last two, winning for the last one.
Largo”, “Treasure of the Sierra Madre”, “In A Lonely Place”,
“The Caine Mutiny” and “The African Queen”. He received Oscar
nominations for both of the last two, winning for the last one.
Gloria
Grahame is less well known to modern movie audiences, but you’ve
seen her at least once. She plays Violet, the town flirt, in “It’s
A Wonderful Life”. But she also picked up two Oscar nominations,
including a win for 1952’s “The Bad and The Beautiful”, a role
that included just over nine minutes of total screen time. Bogart was
often at his best with a smart, confident, sexy woman opposite him
and she fills the bill here.
Grahame is less well known to modern movie audiences, but you’ve
seen her at least once. She plays Violet, the town flirt, in “It’s
A Wonderful Life”. But she also picked up two Oscar nominations,
including a win for 1952’s “The Bad and The Beautiful”, a role
that included just over nine minutes of total screen time. Bogart was
often at his best with a smart, confident, sexy woman opposite him
and she fills the bill here.
It’s
a treat for everyone other than hardcore Bogart fans, a great Bogie
movie you’ve probably never seen. Time to fix that!
a treat for everyone other than hardcore Bogart fans, a great Bogie
movie you’ve probably never seen. Time to fix that!
Rating
– **** Recommended
– **** Recommended
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