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| In A Lonely Place | ||
Gloria Graeme as Laurel Gray & Bogie as Dix Steele |
Independantly produced by Bogie's own Santana Productions, and directed by the legendary
Nicholas Ray (who was at the time married to the film's leading lady), In A Lonely Place is a love story, a murder mystery and a brilliant character study, and
arguably contains one of Bogart's most complex performances. Bogie takes us on a roller coaster ride of emotions portraying an intelligent, once highly successful, but now out of work Hollywood screenwriter who has a terrible flaw - a highly strung unstable personality which on the one hand is highly considerate and sensitive of others, but which can in the same moment explode into intense violent outbursts when confronted with any sense of injustice or personal offense. | |
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The film's leading lady (Gloria Graeme as Laurel Gray) meets the leading man (Bogie as Dixon Steele) on the very
night he brings a slightly loopy hatcheck girl home from his favourite bar. She sees them walking together
towards the steps of his apartment. But it is all very innocent, as Dix is just using her to relate the story
of a bestseller she has read, which he has been approached to adapt to the screen (but hasn't got the inclination
to read). However the situation takes a tragic turn for the worse when after leaving his apartment she is
brutally murdered. Laurel is the sole witness who can help Dix with an alibi, so she is brought into the police department and "in an act of faith" based on her instincts testifies to his innocence, even though she never saw the girl leave his apartment (a fact she fudges in her report to the police). From this odd beginning a passionate and joyful love affair begins between Laurel and Dix. Two lonely people find happiness. But the police won't leave Dix alone, as knowing his violent history, they still suspect him in the crime. Laurel and Dix's relationship soon comes under great pressure as Laurel is badgered against her will to assist the police in further investigating Dix's case, and when Dix discovers that she has been talking to the police his volatile nature begins to surface, and as we the viewer begin to see Dix emotionally unravel, Laurel's conviction of his innocence begins to falter. The outcome is the stuff of classic noir. Shot in Black & White. The DVD presents the film in it's Original Aspect Ratio of 1.33 to 1. Extra Features include: Documentary - In a Lonely Place: Revisited (20m:23s) A retrospective featurette hosted by filmmaker Curtis Hanson. Documentary - In a Lonely Place: Restoration Story (05m:19s) Documents the studio's restoration work on the film. The Bogart Collection (04m:22s) A textual biography and gallery of Posters and Lobby Cards set to music. Original Trailer | ||