Released: 1946
Starring: Robert Montgomery, Audrey Totter, Lloyd Nolan, Jayne Meadows, Leon Ames
Director: Robert Montgomery
Distributed by: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Rated: Approved (Hays Code)
“M.G.M. presents a revolutionary motion picture; the most amazing since Talkies began! YOU and ROBERT MONTGOMERY solve a murder mystery together!”
While on the search for Christmas movies, I like to add a murder mystery from 1947 titled The Lady in the Lake. Based on the story by famed 20th century writer Raymond Chandler, the film has become a classic due not to the story, but to the unusual camera as a character, becoming the core of the first-person narrative.
Directed by, and starring Robert Montgomery (Here Comes Mr. Jordan, Night Must Fall) as Chandler’s hard-boiled detective Philip Marlowe, it also boasts among its cast stalwart character actor Leon Ames (Meet Me in St. Louis, Little Women), hard-bitten but luscious Audrey Totter (The Postman Always Rings Twice, The Unsuspected), pre-Honeymooners Jayne Meadows (Undercurrent, Song of the Thin Man), and perennial favorite Lloyd Nolan (Michael Shayne: Private Detective, Airport).
The tale begins with Marlowe, facing the audience telling about the “Lady in the Lake’. He invites the audience to follow the clues, make the deductions and see if they can solve the mystery. Montgomery, as Marlowe, is never seen again in the movie except as a reflection in the mirror. The other actors all play to the camera as if it is Marlowe. As the story unfolds, three days before Christmas, Miss Fromsett (Totter) hires Marlowe, through a subterfuge, to find her publisher/employer’s Derace Kingsby’s (Ames) missing wife. It is not concern that she feels, but rather wanting the opportunity to ‘get the goods’ on the missing spouse so he will divorce the wife and marry her. Ostensibly Marlowe has written a detective story that Fromsett thinks would be publishable.
Marlowe, in true detective style, goes out looking for clues and connections. After an altercation with possible suspect Chris Lavery, he finds himself in the local hoosegow, confronted by Lt. DeGarmot, a hard-nosed cop with a chip on his shoulder and Captain Kane, his superior. Marlowe gets released and returns to Fromsett in time to hear some news about a lady in a lake, the wife of Kingsby’s caretaker at Little Fawn Lake where Kingsby has a cabin. Marlowe high tails it and takes a look at the 30 days immersed woman. She doesn’t look good. More clues and suspects are introduced and we the viewers experience it all directly through the eyes of Detective Marlowe.
How does this convoluted movie come together and tie up all the loose ends? What happens to Marlowe and Fromsett? Will Chrystal Kingsby be reunited with her husband? What about Lt. DeGarmot? Who is the lady in the lake? Will Marlowe show his face to the viewer at the end?
This tightly woven screenplay may seem intricate, but all is explained satisfactorily. The cinematic trick of the first-person narrative was a not smash at the box office, and while some critics liked the idea of the camera being the protagonist, it was too innovative for its time. This was the last film at MGM for Robert Montgomery who had worked there for eighteen years.
The music by lesser-known composer David Snell invokes just the right mood for each scene, along with the ubiquitous Christmas music throughout. While the screenplay diverges from Raymond Chandler’s 1943 novel, (setting changes seasons from summer to Christmas time for example), Steve Fisher’s screenplay takes a rather entangled/sophisticated story and ties it together neatly, along with distinctly drawn characters.
Audrey Totter does an excellent Adrienne Fromsett, although a trifle too hard-boiled at times. Her reversal to a loving girlfriend of Marlowe from tough publisher’s assistant needed a little more time to be completely believable. Then again, one does not know how much ended up on the cutting room floor to Miss Totter’s detriment. Robert Montgomery is, of course, totally believable. His (then) recent sojourn in the Navy added to his look of worldly-weariness. Lloyd Nolan is perfection as tough cop DeGarmot.
Being an avid watcher of TCM and avid admirer of both Robert Montgomery and Lloyd Nolan, I found this film to be a delight. Add to the fact that it is set in the Christmas season gives me a good excuse to watch it (several times) each December. The DVD quality of this film was excellent. It looked as though it had been remastered, although this was not noted on the DVD/case.
Rating:
Mimi Savage:
Grab some Christmas cookies, hot chocolate, and your significant other for a two-hour delight from beginning to end.
Jack Savage:
The charm of Lady in the Lake lies more with the abilities of its actors than with the actual story. Lady in the Lake‘s subjective use of the camera is quirky, but it rarely puts you off the film or even pulls you out of the narrative. Director and lead actor Robert Montgomery conveys a lot of personality even though he is rarely seen on screen. Audrey Totter gives us a wide gamut of emotions while acting towards a camera lens versus another actor. One aspect of the film that I find difficult to get past is the quickly developed relationship between Marlowe and Fromsett. It feels awkward and forced even though so much of the film is dedicated to it. Still a solid film for mystery and noir lovers.
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