Re: What movies have you seen recently? Part 1
Blonde Ice (1948)
This is really a pretty good and interesting B-movie crime programmer that has a pretty good plot and moves along at a good pace. Here's the plot and some of my thoughts:
Actually this is the synopsis. It reveals a bit but seeing as no one will likely see this it's ok:
As you can see with the synopsis this movie has some noir trappings and The Clair Cummings character is one of those bad girl Femme Fatales. In fact, as I watched the movie I kept thinking if Sharon Stone was in Hollywood back in the day and never became a top star this would be a flick tailor made for her.
The idea of Clair still carrying a torch for Les while trying to attain wealth with rich men is interesting. It shows the duplicitous nature of the character and how deep down she was a bit of a nutcase. A couple of things happen in this movie that are totally unrealistic (like Clair getting her job at the newspaper back despite an investigation on her husband's death) but they fit well into the story so the internal logic is there.
Last but not least I really liked the acting job done by James Griffith who plays the somewhat sleazy but effective newspaperman Al Herrick who is ostensibly trying to get Les off the hook on the police investigation. The two don't really like each other as Al thinks Les committed the murder. As the movie goes on though he sees things the other way (much too quickly for my liking though) but all in all the character was quite fun to watch.
Can't give this more than 2 stars but it's a good way to pass 70 minutes or so.
Blonde Ice (1948)
This is really a pretty good and interesting B-movie crime programmer that has a pretty good plot and moves along at a good pace. Here's the plot and some of my thoughts:
Actually this is the synopsis. It reveals a bit but seeing as no one will likely see this it's ok:
Reporting the news for a top periodical Claire Cummings (Leslie Brooks) believes she made for better things other than hammering out a living with her sports reporter boy friend Les Burns (Robert Paige) and decides to marry up into wealth. On her honeymoon her new husband abandons her and goes back to Los Angeles when he catches her writing a love letter to Les. Later that night Claire charters a plane piloted by Blackie Talon (Russ Vincent) to travel back to Los Angeles and the next day her husband is found dead, presumably from a suicide. The police suspect murder and Claire deflects their suspicions by framing Les as having motive and opportunity to do in his rival. Claire continues to manipulate the emotions of Les to keep him helping her and when Blackie comes back into her life for blackmailing purposes, Claire dispatches him and cuddles up to successful politician Stanley Mason (James Whalen) for a ride to the top of the heap, but when he discovers her getting close to Les, Mason confronts Clair. When Les discovers the depths of Clair's ruthlessness he realizes it may cost him his own life.
The idea of Clair still carrying a torch for Les while trying to attain wealth with rich men is interesting. It shows the duplicitous nature of the character and how deep down she was a bit of a nutcase. A couple of things happen in this movie that are totally unrealistic (like Clair getting her job at the newspaper back despite an investigation on her husband's death) but they fit well into the story so the internal logic is there.
Last but not least I really liked the acting job done by James Griffith who plays the somewhat sleazy but effective newspaperman Al Herrick who is ostensibly trying to get Les off the hook on the police investigation. The two don't really like each other as Al thinks Les committed the murder. As the movie goes on though he sees things the other way (much too quickly for my liking though) but all in all the character was quite fun to watch.
Can't give this more than 2 stars but it's a good way to pass 70 minutes or so.
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