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In a Lonely Place

7.9

8,884

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Original title

In a Lonely Place

Year

1950

Running time

91 min.

Country

United States

Director

Nicholas Ray

Screenwriter

Andrew Solt. Story: Dorothy B. Hughes

Cast

Music

George Antheil

Cinematography

Burnett Guffey (B&W)

Producer

Columbia Pictures, Santana Pictures Corporation

Genre

Film noir. Mystery. Drama | Crime. Romantic Drama. Psychological Drama. Film In Film

Synopsis

Screenwriter Dixon Steele, faced with the odious task of scripting a trashy bestseller, has hat-check girl Mildred Atkinson tell him the story in her own words. Later that night, Mildred is murdered and Steele is a prime suspect; his record of belligerence when angry and his macabre sense of humor tell against him. Fortunately, lovely neighbor Laurel Gray gives him an alibi. Laurel proves to be just what Steele needed, and their friendship ripens into love. Will suspicion, doubt, and Steele's inner demons come between them?

Rankings Position

Critics' reviews

"Carefully constructed by Bogart, who produced it (...) This is a crisp black-and-white film with an almost ruthless efficiency of style (…) Rating: ★★★★ (out of 4)"

Roger Ebert: rogerebert.com
"Ray understands the effects of environment on the human condition (...) One of Ray’s smartest and most devastating masterpieces (…) Rating: ★★★★ (out of 4)"

Ed Gonzalez: Slant
"Masterpiece (...) 'In A Lonely Place' arguably features [Bogart's] finest performance —at the very least, it’s his most unnerving."

Mike D'Angelo: AV Club
"One of the darkest, harshest, and most devastating love stories ever made (...) Few movies suggest such a forthright flaying of the director’s soul."

Richard Brody: The New Yorker
"Director Nicholas Ray maintains nice suspense. Bogart is excellent. Gloria Grahame, as his romance, also rates kudos."

Variety
"It's a breathtaking work, and a key citation in the case for confession as suitable material for art."

Dave Kehr: Chicago Reader
In 2007 the film was selected (Won the National Film Registry) by The National Film Preservation Board founded by the Library of Congress. Dixon Steeele (Bogart): "I was born when she kissed me. I died when she left me. I lived a few weeks while she loved me".

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Ranking Lists Position

29 My Favorite Noir Movies (178)

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In a Lonely Place

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