For about the first 30 minutes of Paramount's THE FILE ON THELMA JORDAN (aka "Thelma Jordan") you get the impression that it is going to be another love triangle with unhappily married District Attorney Cleve Marshall (Wendell Corey) having the hots for 'ready for a fling' Thelma Jordan (Barbara Stanwyck). But then the movie begins to find its purpose and turns out to be a splendid noir thriller. Produced for the studio by Hal Wallis in 1949 it was beautifully written for the screen by Ketti Frings and sharply photographed in monochrome by George Barnes. Adding greatly to the picture is the marvellous atmospheric score by the great Victor Young and the whole thing was masterfully directed, in his best noir style, by Robert Siodmak. Siodmak was a exceptional - but inconsistent - director. In 1945 he directed "The Spiral Staircase" one of the finest suspense thrillers ever made. Followed the next year with one of the best noirs ever produced the unequalled "The Killers". But he was prone to surprising diversity too! He could go from these supreme thrillers to directing such things as the entertaining but clownish swashbuckler "The Crimson Pirate" (1952) and the stiff and clunky western epic "Custer Of The West" (1967). Nevertheless he is best remembered today for his ingenious noir efforts.
The plot of THE FILE ON THELMA JORDAN has Thelma Jordan (Barbara Stanwyck) being accused of the killing of her aunt (Gertrude Hoffman) and robbing the safe in her grand mansion. Pleading innocence, she sends for her lover Cleve Marshall (Wendell Corey) to help her. He arrives and commences to divert any blame for the murder away from her. But to no avail she is arrested anyway for the killing and charged. Cleve, as the District Attorney, now plans to prosecute her in court and purposely lose the case so that she will be acquitted. The plan works but to Cleve's chagrin it turns out that she did, after all, murder her aunt and not only that but she also has a husband (Richard Rober) with whom she had planned the whole thing from the beginning. With Cleve now totally dispirited and his career in tatters Jordan, with her husband, go away together to start over but with a change of mind and heart she deliberately causes the car they are in to crash and explode into flames.
One of the most tangible aspects of the picture is the musical contribution from the great Victor Young. The main theme first heard over the titles is a gorgeous sweeping melody that becomes a ravishing love theme later. It is one of the composer's loveliest melodic inspirations and gives the lover's early scenes together a tender romantic aura. Then there is the exciting martial cue for the film's terrific set piece as Jordan is being walked hurriedly from the Jailhouse across the street to the Courthouse, flanked by milling press and public, to hear the jury's verdict. The entire pace of this sequence is achieved through the brilliant use of music.THELMA JORDAN is Young's best noir score!
Performances are excellent! Stanwyck has rarely been better, doing her powerful devious Femme Fatale bit just as good as anytime before. Excellent too is Wendell Corey! The only actor I know who can deliver lines without moving his lips. An actor who usually played second male lead Corey had heaps of screen presence but was never the ideal leading man. Stanwyck who could be overshadowed quite easily by a stronger male star such as Holden or Ray Milland probably chose Corey for that very reason. She chose him again the following year to play opposite her in Anthony Mann's "The Furies".
THE FILE ON THELMA JORDAN is a classic film noir but isn't it a shame that it is not available on DVD. It was on VHS at one time but now I think its about time Paramount gave serious thought to a DVD presentation.
The plot of THE FILE ON THELMA JORDAN has Thelma Jordan (Barbara Stanwyck) being accused of the killing of her aunt (Gertrude Hoffman) and robbing the safe in her grand mansion. Pleading innocence, she sends for her lover Cleve Marshall (Wendell Corey) to help her. He arrives and commences to divert any blame for the murder away from her. But to no avail she is arrested anyway for the killing and charged. Cleve, as the District Attorney, now plans to prosecute her in court and purposely lose the case so that she will be acquitted. The plan works but to Cleve's chagrin it turns out that she did, after all, murder her aunt and not only that but she also has a husband (Richard Rober) with whom she had planned the whole thing from the beginning. With Cleve now totally dispirited and his career in tatters Jordan, with her husband, go away together to start over but with a change of mind and heart she deliberately causes the car they are in to crash and explode into flames.
One of the most tangible aspects of the picture is the musical contribution from the great Victor Young. The main theme first heard over the titles is a gorgeous sweeping melody that becomes a ravishing love theme later. It is one of the composer's loveliest melodic inspirations and gives the lover's early scenes together a tender romantic aura. Then there is the exciting martial cue for the film's terrific set piece as Jordan is being walked hurriedly from the Jailhouse across the street to the Courthouse, flanked by milling press and public, to hear the jury's verdict. The entire pace of this sequence is achieved through the brilliant use of music.THELMA JORDAN is Young's best noir score!
Performances are excellent! Stanwyck has rarely been better, doing her powerful devious Femme Fatale bit just as good as anytime before. Excellent too is Wendell Corey! The only actor I know who can deliver lines without moving his lips. An actor who usually played second male lead Corey had heaps of screen presence but was never the ideal leading man. Stanwyck who could be overshadowed quite easily by a stronger male star such as Holden or Ray Milland probably chose Corey for that very reason. She chose him again the following year to play opposite her in Anthony Mann's "The Furies".
THE FILE ON THELMA JORDAN is a classic film noir but isn't it a shame that it is not available on DVD. It was on VHS at one time but now I think its about time Paramount gave serious thought to a DVD presentation.