I personally tire of these endless "recap" shows that ABC is fond of putting together to cover the reality that they don't order enough new shows to fill a season.
That said, I chose not to watch TV programming last night at all, but instead put on my Fox noir "Fallen Angel."
I have extremely mixed feelings about this film. On the one hand, it's atmospheric as all get-out, has a terrifically propulsive little score by David Raksin and an interesting song written by Raksin but heard only in part throughout the movie as it's Linda Darnell's favorite jukebox selection.
This was Alice Faye's last film (until "State Fair " in 1962). She's beautiful and more than capable of handling a dramatic non-singing role. I'd love to have seen her work with Cukor or Mankiewicz or Ford.
This isn't a "Laura"-type film by any stretch of the imagination, despite Preminger directing it, Dana Andrews starring in it and David Raksin scoring it.
The cast is pretty good, the story moves along briskly, and the differences between the disreputable and respectable blur, bend and merge as the film progresses. Charles Bickford is terrific as the mysterious, somewhat brutal Judd who seems free to play "cop" with anyone he pleases.
I'd love to praise the cinematography, but the fact is that Fox either didn't bother restoring the film for DVD or did the best it could from existing elements. It's a patchwork quilt that has a few moments of high quality video, some that look a bit off-tone and there are a few breaks in the flow of the film.
I've know about this film for as long as I've loved movies and fell in love with Alice Faye (about 40 years), but it's the first time I've seen it.
