This dead pan acting is a big no no!
barring the heroine, mitchum did not do justice to the role. No emotion, no shouting and yelling?, ( that too when you have turmoil in love and all?). this kind of acting just do not cut it in modern era. the dead pan acting in the name of film-noir wont work today.
It took marlon brando to change the deal. Even in the 60's and 70's the heroes could get away using their charisma( steve macqueen( who in real life talks a lot), client east wood, charles brosnan etc). James dean was also cool but he showed range of emotions and open his mouth!
In the method school of acting the actor would be get a mouthful from a director( they would not even hire). Mitchum could have done so much better!
My point is you could still have a film-noir without this kind of 'cool' acting from the protagonist! the heroine was simply fantastic!
humphrey bogart another biggest culprit despite being a great actor( he acted very well in treasure of sierra madre but just like this in other movies)
dustin hoffman's another role in stray dogs comes to mind( he is cool in the beginning but than it picks up as the stakes go higher!).
they some how need to revisit this film.