MovieChat Forums > Red Light (1949) Discussion > What a Punch!!

What a Punch!!

posted 10 years ago by jmiller1918
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I thoroughly enjoyed this odd "religious" noir; Raft's one-note performance is entirely appropriate. The "brotherly love" scenes with Raft fawning over the priestly sibling were a little cringe-inducing, but nothing to dissuade one from rapt attention to what follows.

One scene, though, that left me shaking my head was in the men's room at the bowling alley, where Raft punched the lumbering, built-like-a-mountain Burr. The latter goes literally flying several feet, only stopped by a solidly constructed wall. Credibility suffered an equal blow, if we were to believe the aging Raft threw a punch that propelled Burr backwards like a rag doll.

In spite of these very minor quibbles, a very interesting noir, definitely recommended for fans of the genre.

[–] Florestan51 10 years ago

Unfortunately there are several incidents that defy or stretch credibility. You've mentioned one of them (when Johnny sends Nick flying). Someone else on another thread mentioned how improbable it was that Jess, after being mortally wounded, and in almost total darkness, could have managed to find the appropriate page in the Gideon bible, circle the relevant passage, and then write a note to Johnny in perfectly legible handwriting on the same page. To that I would add the question why he didn't use his own bible (the one we saw earlier that Johnny had given him) instead of the one in the room (yes, I know, because the plot required it!).

There's another, the scene where Nick eavesdrops on the conversation in the next room between Johnny and Warni and Warni subsequently realizes this had happened (when he gets confused about which phone is ringing). For this to work the way it did, (a) Johnny had to forget to turn off the switch on his intercom after asking Warni to drop by, *AND* (b) Nick had to forget to turn off the switch on Warni's intercom before leaving.

And there's another: would even Nick have been strong enough to dislodge the support under the trailer (under which Warni was hiding) as simply as it seemed he did?

But like you I love the movie. It's a great theme and the ending is superb, though I'm wondering what if any conclusion we're supposed to draw about Johnny and Carla at the end.

[–] rosarypliers 10 years ago

So many coincidences in that movie, haha. I remember watching the eavesdropping scene and actually expected the intercom to buzz in Johnny's office, but, as you say, Johnny must have forgotten to turn it off.
I personally think the scene in the bathroom is quite funny, and the exaggerated falling against the wall (and part of a heating element, if I remember correctly) was quite funny, but I cannot tell why. Somehow I also love that sign in the background: Please keep this place clean. There are some other interesting signs, like a huge "No smoking" sign in Ken Murray's office (his associate has a lit cigar) and that "Keep this door unlocked" on the emergency exit. (Then why does it have a lock in the first place?)

As far as the trailer scene (possibly my favorite scene) is concerned...it's good I no longer work for XXX X (a company that sells and rents camping trailers) and so I can safely say that these things collapse even on their own, without anybody helping. Numerous complaints that their trailer folded while they were in it. Now, this was a freight trailer, but it looked very much like our "Easter egg" model, with only one pair of small wheels. The trailer collapsing somehow reminded me of Warni's warning "The business is falling apart." Johnny should have taken care of the order of new trailers. So, coupled with the fact that the cops in this movie were highly incompetent (another coincidence) it didn't come to me as a surprise that it was labeled an accident. By the way, I love how Johnny barely acknowledges Warni's death. His valet seems more distraught than he.

Concerning your last thought, I'd rather say no. The only scene in the movie that suggests that Carla has some romantic feelings for Johnny is when he says "Wait!" after she leaves his apartment after he has slapped her, and she seemed to be expecting something entirely else than her salary. Actually, I'm glad they didn't waste time for a romance between Johnny and Carla. The movie has a quick pace (the coincidences help a lot) and it adds to his rewatchability. Carla serves as Johnny's girl Friday (which saves a lot of time, too) and in the end, helps to get even with his conscience.

You may cross-examine.