25 Comments

  1. Wonderful post. It’s great that you went back to the source material to flesh out the characters in your mind. I am always a little afraid of Bogart, even when he plays a nice guy, so you know he terrifies me in this film. Gloria was perfect – and interesting how a character can be a femme fatale to one person and a victim to another.

    • Thank you! It’s true about Bogart. He was great at being scary. Those early films really helped him build a frightening persona. In this he reminded me of his performance in The Two Mrs.Carrolls. Yes, she plays such a complex character here, but then she always does, doesn’t she? She is so talented.

  2. Of the Hughes I have read, I have yet to get around to In a Lonely Place. You intrigue me with the comparison of novel to film. I want to watch the movie all over again with your article by my side.

    It is easy to get caught up in those who want things to turn out for Dix in the film. The potential for what he can be is there, but he doesn’t see it and he doesn’t seem to want it. There’s no one to blame but himself, but he can’t do that.

    Gloria is lovely and interesting in In a Lonely Place. Laurel has her own issues, as evidenced by her “running away” from her last relationship, but she makes an effort. Too much effort in this case.

    • I am so curious which of her novels you have liked the best. I just ordered The Expendable Man on ILL. It’s true. He definitely has potential to be a better person; you can see it in that treatment of the sad former actor. I thought it was interesting how hard his agent had tried to get him to go to therapy. She is lovely in it, isn’t she? I felt for her. You can see in Laurel that need to make something work–you have the feeling she’s given up on relationships before, and wants to be different this time…

  3. Great choice and review of this classic film noir. I recently wrote about it for The Dark Pages magazine. Gloria Grahame and Nicholas Ray had a colorful if very sad relationship. Gloria’s contract for the movie was one bad starting point as well.

  4. I enjoyed your post. The movie is great, but I think I like the novel more. Robert Montgomery also stars as Dix in a radio broadcast of In a Lonely Place. It’s definitely worth a listen.

  5. John Greco

    A dark and dangerous film. One of Nick Ray’s best. I acutally have the Hughes book on my to be read shelf and will have to move it up on the list. Bogart and Grahame are fabulous combination. Great job and a great pick. Thanks for joining iin the blogathon

  6. Thanks for the book recommendation – I’ll look for it at the library. Then I’ll rewatch the film.

    You made a good point in an earlier comment about the chemistry between Bogart and Grahame. Like you said, it’s hard to notice anyone else on screen during their scenes.

    You’ve given me lots to think about the next time I see this film. Thanks! 🙂

  7. You chose Grahame’s greatest performance, IMO, and I chose her second greatest. You wowed me with your discussion of her character and unforgettable film. Thanks!

    Aurora

  8. A great post that really highlights a lot of the problems I’ve had with the critical commentary surrounding In a Lonely Place and Grahame’s character. I love Bogie, but he’s basically a gaslighting psychopath in this film and Laurel is well rid of him.

    • Amanda, Exactly! Gaslighting is a perfect word for it. He (and his friends) convince her it’s just lack of faith getting in the way of her happiness, and that this relationship is healthy besides that doubt. So troubling that the director seems to concur–but it’s easy to also read it as we have–that Laurel escaped.

  9. Terrific post. I had no idea about the Dix of the novel. I recall from the film feeling devastated for both these characters. Laurel for what she had to endure and her heartbreak, and the obvious emotional/mental illness Dix was dealing with that prevented him from having a contented life. Bogart’s skill in acting probably helped me to sympathize with him to the extent possible for an abusive character.

    One of the best noirs ever.

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