Any good?

I happened to rent this from NETFLIX because it looked like a good film-noir crime drama. It turned out to be one of the most BIZARRE films that I have ever seen. Considering the outstanding cast, this botch job makes "Ed Wood" look like David Lean. Still, there is something quite interesting about the effort being made here to break new ground about the reality of the "Ozzie and Harriet" fantasy world of the 50's, when I was a teen-ager. For a car buff my age, the cars alone are worth the DVD rental. There are a lot of good reader reviews on the IMDB if you want to get more information.

If you want something odd, slow moving and unsatisfying, here's your film.

Crime of Passion delivers itself to the viewer with the ease of a steadily poured glass of milk. Both the story and performances maintain an even keel from start to finish.

If placed on a scale ranged from 0 to 100 with other films of similar quality it will likely always place somewhere between 75 - 100. In some ways weak, but by far not the worst. In many ways strong but, perhaps arguably, not the best.

Perhaps the weakest element is that one has to accept a sort of fish out of water subtext. Where a career woman, who gives up her smart-alecky newspaper position to become an unsatisfied suburban housewife, rather than use the cunning and intelligence that had brought her success as a single woman, instead doggedly devotes herself to elevating the status of her husband. Seized by petty jealousies and desire to do better than the Joneses she commits sly and, eventually, heinous acts.

However, the film was made at a time when most people might’ve more readily bought into this scenario as a generally accepted (though largely false) view of American women. A world where ‘good’ women readily yield to their husbands, are overly class conscious and, when it comes to other women, catty to boot.

Accept this and the film holds together pretty well. Don’t accept it and, though the character flaw mentioned above will ring a false note, the performances and story still move along to a smooth, rational conclusion.

If you need a big shock of an ending to feel satisfaction this film won’t give it to you. If you can be pleased with a basic good story delivered with basic good acting you’ll find it a comfortable experience.

Only the a viewer of limited exposure can be entirely thrilled by this film but, conversely, only an obstinate perfectionist can be entirely displeased with it.


"Your thinking is untidy, like most so-called thinking today." (Murder, My Sweet)

Basically, no. It's no Double Indemnity or Strange Love of Martha Ivers. Stanwyck is a bit past her prime here. I found it to be a dull domestic drama but maybe you like these sort of movies, I don't know. If you like movies like Leave Her To Heaven you might like this one. I like film noir with some grit.

Well? we're waiting!! you've had nearly 12 years to bang out a review, lol.
It's now on youtube if you need a recap :)