Murder, My Sweet is one of my favorite Noirs and it made my list at #13. It was mentioned that Dick Powell had previously been in musicals and that's where I knew him from. My wife and I were pretty much glued to Turner Classic Movies for a couple of years and we saw several of his musical extravaganzas, including the three Gold Diggers films. So it was a joy when he put on the shoulder holster and fedora and wisecracked his way through this great Noir. I have to applaud the supporting cast: it was hard for me to reconcile Claire Trevor as the same woman from Stagecoach (1939). She was so sultry here, it was night and day for me. Anne Shirley was fine also, and although she didn't strut around slinkily, she still made an impression. Otto Kruger was great as the heavy of the piece, but almost stealing Powell's thunder was Mike Mazurki in my favorite role of his as Moose Malloy, the bruiser who gets Marlowe into the whole mess of a case so he "find Velma" for Moose. And about Moose, Marlowe says, " I tried to picture him in love with somebody, but it didn't work."
And I just love his whole hard-boiled detective lingo, which is how these guys should talk:"I caught the blackjack right behind my ear. A black pool opened up at my feet. I dived in. It had no bottom. I felt pretty good - like an amputated leg."
I like Gilda very much and the trio of Glenn Ford, Rita Hayworth, and George Macready were super. I like Glenn Ford when he's sour or bitter, or just plain mad, yet I included another Noir on my list where he's all three but I don't know if it'll make it at this point. Too bad, 'cause it's a killer!
#4 The Big Combo List Proper #52
#6 Kansas City Confidential List Proper #53
#13 Murder, My Sweet List Proper #28
#14 Kiss of Death List Proper #59
#15 He Walked By Night List Proper #88
#16 The Naked City List Proper #60
#20 Gun Crazy List Proper #36
#22 This Gun For Hire List Proper #78
#23 The Narrow Margin List Proper #43
#25 Crossfire List Proper #51
And I just love his whole hard-boiled detective lingo, which is how these guys should talk:"I caught the blackjack right behind my ear. A black pool opened up at my feet. I dived in. It had no bottom. I felt pretty good - like an amputated leg."
I like Gilda very much and the trio of Glenn Ford, Rita Hayworth, and George Macready were super. I like Glenn Ford when he's sour or bitter, or just plain mad, yet I included another Noir on my list where he's all three but I don't know if it'll make it at this point. Too bad, 'cause it's a killer!
#4 The Big Combo List Proper #52
#6 Kansas City Confidential List Proper #53
#13 Murder, My Sweet List Proper #28
#14 Kiss of Death List Proper #59
#15 He Walked By Night List Proper #88
#16 The Naked City List Proper #60
#20 Gun Crazy List Proper #36
#22 This Gun For Hire List Proper #78
#23 The Narrow Margin List Proper #43
#25 Crossfire List Proper #51
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"Miss Jean Louise, Mr. Arthur Radley."
"Miss Jean Louise, Mr. Arthur Radley."
Last edited by dadgumblah; 2 weeks ago at 06:24 PM.