MovieChat Forums > A Cry in the Night (1956) Discussion > Pseudo-noir didn't work for me.

Pseudo-noir didn't work for me.

posted 14 years ago by Keatonics
2 replies | jump to latest

Soooo sloooowwww. Plodding and mechanical.

Even though an outstanding cast, Tuttle, a "B" director, clearly was out of his element with potential "A" material. Part of the problem may be that they obviously ran on a tight "B" budget (produced by Alan Ladd). They clearly spent the budget on the cast and scrimped in other elements of the production, (writing, directing, locations and sets, lighting, etc.).

I want to say that Burr was miscast, but, in reality, was probably under directed. They were all, most likely, under directed but the acting ability of the rest of the cast was clearly enough that they could work with a minimum of direction.

All-in-all it was decent entertainment, but not a great film. 6 out of 10 for me.

[–] The_Dying_Flutchman 13 years ago

If it was 6 out of 10 its hardly mediocre, but maybe 5 out of 10 is. Even so, flick was unintentionally funny in parts and very much looked like a lowgrade tv show. Donlevy and other famous cop's porch scene was really a howler. Only truly good actor in this sludge was Raymond Burr, soon able to kiss crap like this goodbye.

Let it be unsaid: insignificance is the locus of true increpation.

[–] bnwfilmbuff 8 years ago

Burr was very good. O'Brien I normally like but he was awful. He was out of control. Donlevy was just bad. The movie progresses without making a lot of sense. The rest of the cast was inconsequential.