Director: Frank Tuttle
Cast: Barry Sullivan, Belita, Bonita Granville, Albert Dekker
Have I Seen it Before: Never.
Did I Like It: The simplest version of the answer to that question can be summed up with the following statement: I have many, many objections to that title. There is very little suspense to be found in the film. That’s probably pretty damning for a film like this, when all you need to do to get the suspense cooking in a B Noir Thriller like this is establish a clock ticking down to zero or cut to cops slowly but surely closing in on the schemers. But perhaps I shouldn’t be critical without offering some constructive suggestions. Here are some alternate titles:
Kind of Noir, But Really Only In The Last Reel
Swordplay, But Not In The Way You’re Thinking
The Dame Sure Can Ice Skate
That’s probably enough.
But there’s something there in those titles, if only in that last one. Belita sure can skate, and the sequences in which she does so are done well. If you’re interested in ice skating, I’m hard pressed to recommend another film. The problem becomes in the lackadaisical way that a plot is just slapped on to some nice ice skating sequences. This material could have been wrapped up in any kind of story. A romantic comedy would have worked, if Barry Sullivan didn’t have the kind of angular face that ensures he’s up to no good the moment that he occupies the screen. Even a Western revolving around a good ice skater would have worked, although I’ll admit the re-working to a period piece might have broken the poor King Brothers’ bank. While I’m still pitching, a rags to riches showbiz movie could have worked.
Come to think of it, why didn’t they build a starring vehicle for Belita around that conceit. After all the dame sure can ice skate.