CONNECTION TO PREVIOUS ENTRY: Gloria Grahame
SOURCE: TCM (though I own the Criterion Blu Ray)
STARRING: Humphrey Bogart, Gloria Grahame, Frank Lovejoy
CO-STARS: Art Smith, Carl Benton Reid, Martha Stewart
DIRECTOR: Nicholas Ray
COMPOSER: George Antheil
STUDIO: Columbia
SUMMARY: Dixon “Dix” Steele (Bogart) is a Hollywood screenwriter who has not had a hit since before World War II. On his way to a nightclub to meet his agent, Mel Lippmann (Smith), his explosive temper reveals itself in a road rage altercation with another motorist. He manages to reel it in however, before the motorist is killed. While at the nightclub, Dix is convinced to adapt a pulp fiction novel to the big screen. He thinks this job is beneath him, but agrees because he needs the work and more importantly, he needs a hit. Dix goes to the hat check stand to pick up a copy of the book left for him by Mel and finds the attendant, Mildred Atkinson (Martha Stewart, no not *that* Martha Stewart) reading the book. She explains that she’s almost read the whole thing and asks Dix if he’d mind letting her finish the last few pages. Dix, stating that he’s too tired anyway to read the book, asks Mildred if she’d mind coming home with him and explaining the plot. Despite it seeming like a smooth pick-up line, Dix legitimately just wants Mildred to tell him about the book. She agrees to do so. Later, Mildred leaves Dix’s apartment and is killed by an unknown assailant. Naturally as the last person to see her and with a record of violent outbursts, Dix is the prime suspect. Dix’s neighbor, Laurel Gray (Grahame) is introduced as an alibi, stating that Dix was home during the time Mildred was murdered. Throughout the remainder of the story, Dix and Laurel’s relationship starts as friendly and becomes romantic. At the beginning of the story, Laurel is convinced that the police’s interest in Dix is nothing but a witch hunt. However, as she spends more time with Dix and observes, first hand, his temper, she begins to have her doubts as to Dix’s innocence.
FAVORITE PART(S):
1) Dix’s complete lack of interest in the book. Even after making Mildred accompany him home, fixing her a “horse’s neck,” and having her describe the entire plot, he still decides that it’s garbage.
2) My birthday, June 22, is mentioned by the police while going through Dix’s rap sheet, detailing all the different instances of his temper causing him to commit violent acts.
3) The weirdness of Laurel’s masseuse, Martha. That whole scene is so bizarre.
4) The entire Dix Steele character is so compelling. Deep down, he doesn’t seem like a bad person, he just needs some help for dealing with his temper.
5) I love Dix and Laurel’s relationship, up until the end. I love that Laurel realizes that she can’t go on living with someone with this anger issue–despite my belief that she genuinely cared about him. It’s a very realistic ending.
6) Dix and his friends’ discussion re: Mildred’s murder and Dix’s lack of emotion. He is so flippant about the whole thing, and his friends are horrified, thinking that he may have been responsible.
BEST QUOTE(S):
DIX: I was born when she kissed me. I died when she left me. I lived a few weeks while she loved me.
DIX: You know, you’re out of your mind. How can anyone like a face like mine? Look at it…
LAUREL: I said I liked it, I didn’t say I wanted to kiss it.
MILDRED: Before I started to go to work at Paul’s, I used to think that actors made up their own lines.
DIX: When they get to be big stars, they usually do.
DIX: Go ahead and get some sleep and we’ll have dinner together tonight.
LAUREL: We’ll have dinner tonight. But not together.
CAPTAIN LOCHNER: You’re told the girl you were with last night was found in Benedict Canyon, murdered. Dumped from a moving car. What’s your reaction? Shock? Horror? Sympathy? No. Just petulance at being questioned. A couple of feeble jokes. You puzzle me, Mr. Steele.
DIX: Well, I grant you, the jokes could have been better, but I don’t see why the rest should worry you–that is, unless you plan to arrest me on lack of emotion.
DIX: It was his story against mine, but of course, I told my story better.
MILDRED: And, you know, there are lots of little plots (in the book) and things I didn’t even tell you about!
DIX: Thank you.
(I could just keep going. This movie has such amazing dialogue)