Under-rated Picture


What a wonderful classic!

John Garfield was in his element! So sad he died so young...And, I've really come to appreciate Geraldine Fitzgerald in films. I first saw her in 'Dark Victory' with Bette Davis - She performs to a 't' with under-stated elegance and emotion. In 'Nobody Lives Forever', she is radiantly beautiful. The 'film noir' lighting really brought out her beautiful eyes and facial structure.

A delightful movie! I am so thankful for TCM introducing all these wonderful classics to generations of new viewers!

'There’s a name for you ladies, but it’s not used - Outside a kennel! (Crystal Allen in The Women)'

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Yes, on all counts. And I so enjoyed the sequence at San Juan Capistrano. It is here that Nick has his epiphany and rediscovers his soul. The priest and Gladys do not admonish Nick for reaching (not once) - but, twice for his money, the second time producing the squalid paper. It's all Nick has ever known, chased and what he trades in exclusively. They both forgive Nick here, the Priest accepting it without even flinching...Gladys then not making an issue of it, but granting grace when Nick immediately implores her if he were correct in his gesture.

I always contrast this "Nick" with "Mickey" in Garfield's charter performance.

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"squalid paper"
hilarious

"charter performance"
huh?

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Garfield can often be pretty wooden, but here he sells his character very well, both as a cocky crook as well as someone with basic decency, so his falling for Fitzgerald comes off as believable. And although things start off a little clumsily, the film had its hooks in after a few scenes in L.A. and never let go. A good looking, well-paced noir with some solid & memorable side players - epecially the old Pop who carries a lifetime of regret yet Brennan never sugarcoats his character and even makes the most of the melodramatic finale. Out of all Negulesco pictures I've seen so far, this I liked the best.



"facts are stupid things" Ronald Reagan

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Just saw it on TCM this week, and I was disappointed in the ending.

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Not bad - 7.5

"She let me go."
~White Oleander

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