krishkmenon Blog

Under discussion:

Quicksand  (1950)

The title says it all. For the hero (anti-hero is it?) the pace of the movie is like quicksand - it moves at a pace, not very fast but definitely at a rate where he is sinking and unable to grasp at anything that will rescue him.

Mickey Rooneys foray into Film-Noire is a definite yes as he lives thru his role of a young naive garage employee who is forced to embezzle a few dollars to entertain a femme-fatale unknowingly and then on the film races like his car to a definitely unpredictable suspenseful end.

Certainly a low budget movie but it delivers.

By Krishna Kumar Menon , Chennai (Madras), India

Under discussion:

Niagara  (1952)

Though Marilyn is cast as a Femme-Fatale it really is a vehicle for Joseph Cotten as the husband who looks as if he is all suffering and forgiving but in reality a schemer with vengeance in his heart. Joseph Cottens image as Holly Martins in The Third Man was likely to be typecast but Niagara changes all that.

Let us not discount Marilyn here as she has given a great performance belying the oft used cliche that she was a dumb blonde. She is quite appealing in her thankless role.

A movie to be seen in its own capacity to really fulfill the viewers appetite.

By Krishna Kumar Menon Chennai (Madras) India