Unknown Noir

Yeah, it wasn't a bad movie but it had a lot of problem and was frustrating to watch. Everyone involved did absolutely everything wrong. I was finding it hard to buy the story as it was presented. It was supposed to be about a lawyer trying to save his client before it's too late but I chose to see it as a character study of how far people will go and what they're willing to do under dire circumstances and the pressure of it all.

- The guy lies to keep from being suspected of a crime he doesn't commit but his lies make him a bigger target

- His wife thinks it will help her husband so she destroys evidence that ultimately could clear him

- The police, DA, and defense attorney do a mediocre job of investigating the crime until the pressure builds

- The real murderers 'girl' is willing to shack up with an old crazy weirdo just to escape the pressure of having to help raise a house full of siblings and to get a new pair of shoes and a dress. Talk about devaluing oneself.

- The husband, not wanting the wife to endure more stress confesses to the crime; how this makes sense I don't know. If she can't withstand questioning, how will she do under the pressure of him going to jail, being tried on murder, possibly being convicted, having her child alone, raising him alone if he's convicted, etc.

- The town is quick to believe the killer is caught so they can breathe a sigh of relief; they won't stand for a murderer in their ranks or the wife of a murderer. Why wouldn't they be more concerned about making sure the right person is caught? This is human nature. People just want someone or something to blame; often more so than they care about the truth.

- The police and other investigators jumped to conclusions and are quick to dismiss other leads. How could they not have searched more thoroughly for the money and an alternate gun

- The diver is paid by the hour, what kind of incentive is that? He'd do better to NOT find anything.

- The diver attacks the wife. How stupid. If he rapes her, he'd have to kill her so she wouldn't talk. Since the lawyer found and is paying him, he'd be suspect number one

- The lawyer's clients abandon him. What? He's a defense attorney so his clients are crooks, criminals and those accused of being crooks and criminals. Why would they care that he's taken on a murderer?

- The diver is caught in the act of attacking the wife but is allowed to walk away without any penalty

- a bunch of high school kids are offered a reward to dive for the gun. That's an accident waiting to happen but worse, a greedy kid could find 'a' gun and turn it in as evidence. Naturally, it would be tested and the ballistics would not match. How trustworthy would that evidence be?

- The lawyer's fiancee (like a lot of women in film, probably also in life) seem to forget the guy they're involved with has a job. They're so bored they would prefer the guy to do a half-ass job in his profession so they could spend more time together. She even gets jealous that he's helping a pregnant lady in labor. Had she been supportive of him, maybe she'd have stepped in and taken the wife under her wing

- The victims' nephew has a lead but fails to mention someone threatened his uncle's life. He's all set to take over the property but doesn't seem at all worried a loony who threatened his uncle might not come back and kill him. He's a nut so maybe he'll think he's his uncle.

- The DA doesn't share evidence or the outcome of an investigation with the friend he has take the defense case? He lets it go to trial so that it will be public when all he would have had to do is tell the defense and hold a press conference

- Vern is just wanted for questioning so why are they shooting at him when he runs away? How is he going to help clear the convicted man if he's dead?

- The DA sees his craziness as proof of his innocence. He'll confess to anything. Really, why wouldn't they get him to admit to things only the murderer would know?

- why would the defense attorney leave just before the execution; who does that?

- a talkative bartender tells them he was willing set up Vern, let him take the rap for the murder but when he provides evidence of an early morning time, he's suddenly believable. Maybe he did it and set up Vern, he was willing to frame him and he knows about the murders before they were discovered too. He hates Vern but is quick to tell him the lawyer was just there. He sends him on a tear by suggesting they were going to his home. He could have gotten someone killed. Again, how do we know he didn't do it? He has a wife and a bunch of kids to alibi him but they're family

- Vern was a good shot when he murdered the two people but now he can't shoot straight enough to hit anyone. Also, didn't he go there to save Gracie, why is he shooting in her direction?

- Why does the fiancee show up at Vern's place? The wife may have told her what's happened but how do either of them know where he lives or that's where everyone would still be?

- the list goes on and on and on


Woman, man! That's the way it should be Tarzan. [Tarzan and his mate]