This may be the poor man's "The Big Sleep", with its confusing plot details and numerous barely-discernible motives. Having the camera take the first-person perspective might have been a novel idea on paper, but it only serves as distraction, and seems to slow down the action in some scenes to a crawl, literally!
But the film is definitely a worthy novelty in the Noir tradition, and femme fatale Audrey Totter is excellent right through to the end. While Robert Montgomery is workable in the role of Phillip Marlowe, perhaps in retrospect he should have stayed behind the camera and let another actor have the part.
The final revelation is well handled, with a multi-layered surprise ending; because, what's a good Noir wrap-up without at least one false identity revealed and sinister motive acted upon. It's a long twisted path, but it's fun once the viewer gets beyond the film's limitations.
But the film is definitely a worthy novelty in the Noir tradition, and femme fatale Audrey Totter is excellent right through to the end. While Robert Montgomery is workable in the role of Phillip Marlowe, perhaps in retrospect he should have stayed behind the camera and let another actor have the part.
The final revelation is well handled, with a multi-layered surprise ending; because, what's a good Noir wrap-up without at least one false identity revealed and sinister motive acted upon. It's a long twisted path, but it's fun once the viewer gets beyond the film's limitations.
