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Philippa All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

Marva It is an exhilarating, distressing, funny and profound film, with one of the more memorable film scores in years,

Pjtaylor-96-138044 'In A Lonely Place (1950)' is a film noir that avoids many of the tropes and conventions that usually come with the genre, though the most basic ones that signify its place within the category are clear and welcome, instead using its sharp script to build upon the central characters as the inciting murder threatens to tear them apart in ways counter to those perhaps expected. It is an achievement that the perspective of the picture slowly switches from Bogart's aggressive screenwriter to Grahame's increasingly cautious love-interest as the scrutiny of the law begins to sow seeds of suspicion into, and put an immense strain on, their relationship. This is done in such a way that the audience only ever knows as much as Grahame and, as such, is never relieved of her nagging thoughts until we're firmly on her side as her new partner's already overbearing demeanour begins to shift to a controlling and borderline abusive one. There are no happy endings here and nothing is romanticised, leading to a tragic piece that ends on a uneasy note of sobering reality. 7/10

DKosty123 This is an outstanding film. It is well directed, and the cat is given an excellent script.Martha Stewart had very few film roles, but makes the most of a few brief moments with Bogie before her murder. That crime then dominates the entire film plot, with Grahame even questioning who done it? Watch for a young James Arness in the police station as a sort of junior officer serving coffee, housekeeping, and doing other chores.Jeff Donnell is very effective as an actress in this one too. She is a detectives wife who is busy analyzing Bogart and Grahame. Bogart is really a character here, violent and uncontrolled at times, and always in a hurry. Why the speed? Watch the movie to find out.The leading cast is so good, that you have to watch intently to pick up on clues leading to the surprise at the end.

Takeshi-K Fantastic in The Big Sleep and uber cool in The Maltese Falcon, Humphrey Bogart pushed the envelope on his acting range with In A Lonely Place. Its easily his best performance out of a career of great performances.Bogart plays Dick Steele, a Hollywood screenwriter who is on the verge of being washed up, after not having had a box office success in years. He is still well respected though, producers still want to hire him and some very glamorous leading ladies are desperate to speak his lines. However his career is harmed by having a reputation of violence and disharmony.After crossing paths with a future young murder victim, he becomes suspected of being the man responsible. This dilemma threatens to ruin the relationship with the woman that loves him, played by Gloria Grahame. While she is initially supportive of him she too begins also to suspect him.Its a gripping tale with complex characterisations, with some of the best acting ever in this type of film. Its a timely film to be rediscovered with domestic violence being a current topic too.

Shawn Watson There are many hidden classics in the noir genre that are waiting to be rediscovered by modern audiences. In a Lonely Place is so contained and concise that it could almost be a stage play, while very nearly being a super-metafictional experience.Bogey plays Dixon Steele (yeah, Dick Steele) a Hollywood screenwriter with a very short temper in need of inspiration and a hit. His latest assignment is to adapt a popular novel but he can't be bothered reading it. Instead he pays a girl to recite the story to him until he gets the gist and can wings it from there. When he sends the girl home she is never seen alive again and Dix is the main suspect.His neighbor Laurel vouches for him, but secretly has doubts about his innocence. They begin a turbulent affair, which is just the inspiration Dix has been looking for and he fires out his script with many changes along the way, though the studio just wanted a straight adaptation. Laurel's suspicion of Dix builds as his rage reaches a critical mass and their relationship begins to buckle under the pressure. This is noir after all. Doom slowly permeates everyone's life and there are never happy endings.The themes of artistic aloneness and alienating Hollywood culture remain timeless to this day. Based on a novel by Dorothy B. Hughes the first writer of the movie was himself tasked with delivering a straight adaptation but a rewrite deviated from the material and came up with something new. Bogey loved the script and there are many who say that his own propensity for sudden rage made him the perfect actor for the role of Dixon Steele. The acting and connections between the characters give this film a lot of rewatch value. You really get pulled into their world and dark affair. There are a couple of weaknesses though. The score is often intrusive and tonally inappropriate and a few of the sets are disappointingly sparse. It doesn't spoil the atmosphere too much though.In a Lonely Place is most certainly one of my favorite film noirs and will never be lonely sitting on my shelf.