Stacy Orth

One of my favorite films, using "film noirish" cinematography to provide an important message about anti-Semitism to post-WWII America. For most of us too young to have lived during these times it also opens insights into some of the past struggles of post-war America. The GI's, who will soon be discharged, are trying to make sense of civilian life after years spent abroad. They've had one, united goal for years and been told what to do every minute of their days. But now that their purpose has been achieved they are missing the tools to move without being directed and to find their individual voices. I find Gloria Grahame's portrayal of a call girl very haunting. In my mind she's the sweet, innocent girl next door whose young life was terribly interrupted by the events of WWII. At a time when she should have been dating and finding love and marriage, all the young men were shipped away to die with a world on fire. She did what she had to do for survival, using her only marketable asset, her good looks. But it embittered her soul, not being able to forgive the world, or herself, for the path she's taken. I find Robert Young's portrayal of the police captain one of my favorite of his many acting roles. Robert Mitchum's portrayal was also very well done. Interestingly, the movie is based on a book where a man was murdered for being homosexual, but was changed to being Jewish for the film. Hollywood was banned from making films about homosexuality, since it was considered sexual perversion. I find it heartbreaking that almost 80 years later America is still struggling with the same attitudes of hate.