this was an exceptional noir, with some great re-directs. it shows that Sirk had all the talent in place to make credible features.. this should be in more lists.
a treat to see Lucille Ball in a dramatic role, she is a comedic genius but she can handle herself in a drama just as well
as for the comment on the 'few noir elements' it has plenty. cynical outlook, detective/ investigator (Lucille being brought on was a nice touch, as so few women play the investigative role in this era), sexual motivations, as well as the mise en scene such as lighting and atmosphere. at times there was a gothic essence-- especially with the casting of Boris and the locations he inhabits in the film.. foggy bridge, cobweb-covered masion with dusty mirrors.. etc.
just because the films doesn't have the classic 'dangerous woman' does not exclude it from being a Noir. i find it a stronger candidate because it doesn't.
Douglas Sirk's Lured starts on a couple of incredible scenes that, through visual economy, introduce this tale of serial murder in London. Sirk gives a master class here. Of course, what follows isn't so economical and efficient... Lucille Ball (as a film noir scream queen!) agrees to work with Scotland Yard as an undercover policewoman after the disappearance of her friend Lucy(!), one of eight young women who answered classified ads and vanished. The mystery isn't that deep, but might throw you a few curve balls along the way. Lots of red herrings explored in detail, which gives Lured an episodic feeling. We might imagine Lucille Ball's character looking for the killer, week to week, and defeating other madmen and crooks along the way as she answered ads and tied loose ends. Charles Coburn and the other coppers are good fatherly figures too, even if the London accents are all over the place in this. Your only stop for a Lucille Ball/Boris Karloff collaboration!
I adore this murder mystery. The performances are superb, the plot is predictable but scary and if you watch the movie very carefully you can get a hint of coded homoeroticism.
It's always hard for me to try to take Lucille Ball seriously in a dramatic role even though she was an excellent actress. Here, she plays decoy to a crazed lady killer. Guess what role Boris Karloff plays? George Sanders is his usual perfection of a slimy cad (such a voice!) A great noir with a rather eclectic cast.
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corchap
this was an exceptional noir, with some great re-directs. it shows that Sirk had all the talent in place to make credible features.. this should be in more lists.a treat to see Lucille Ball in a dramatic role, she is a comedic genius but she can handle herself in a drama just as well
as for the comment on the 'few noir elements' it has plenty. cynical outlook, detective/ investigator (Lucille being brought on was a nice touch, as so few women play the investigative role in this era), sexual motivations, as well as the mise en scene such as lighting and atmosphere. at times there was a gothic essence-- especially with the casting of Boris and the locations he inhabits in the film.. foggy bridge, cobweb-covered masion with dusty mirrors.. etc.
just because the films doesn't have the classic 'dangerous woman' does not exclude it from being a Noir. i find it a stronger candidate because it doesn't.
Siskoid
Douglas Sirk's Lured starts on a couple of incredible scenes that, through visual economy, introduce this tale of serial murder in London. Sirk gives a master class here. Of course, what follows isn't so economical and efficient... Lucille Ball (as a film noir scream queen!) agrees to work with Scotland Yard as an undercover policewoman after the disappearance of her friend Lucy(!), one of eight young women who answered classified ads and vanished. The mystery isn't that deep, but might throw you a few curve balls along the way. Lots of red herrings explored in detail, which gives Lured an episodic feeling. We might imagine Lucille Ball's character looking for the killer, week to week, and defeating other madmen and crooks along the way as she answered ads and tied loose ends. Charles Coburn and the other coppers are good fatherly figures too, even if the London accents are all over the place in this. Your only stop for a Lucille Ball/Boris Karloff collaboration!nbats
https://archive.org/details/l74565466Camille Deadpan
I adore this murder mystery. The performances are superb, the plot is predictable but scary and if you watch the movie very carefully you can get a hint of coded homoeroticism.ClassicLady
It's always hard for me to try to take Lucille Ball seriously in a dramatic role even though she was an excellent actress. Here, she plays decoy to a crazed lady killer. Guess what role Boris Karloff plays? George Sanders is his usual perfection of a slimy cad (such a voice!) A great noir with a rather eclectic cast.few visible scars
A fairly good crime thriller, but very little (if any) Noir touches.