(NOIR) Fog Island - 1945 ***

A poorly done "B'' movie about a group of people invited to an old man's house at Fog Island. He invites them there under the pretext that they will be given some of his inheritance but he actually wants to uncover which of them murdered his dead wife. I was surprised but happy to see Jerome Cowan of the 'Fred and Ginger' films taking a moderate sized part here, but the quality of the film was so dire that a lot of the time it was hard to differentiate who was who.

(NOIR) They Made Me A Killer - 1946 **

This was a really dire film. The quality was awful which didn't help, but there were no credible or standout performances at all.
A young woman sets out to prove a man has been wrongly convicted of armed robbery and murder. In the process she puts her own life at risk from the violent gang who did perform the task.
Miss this.

(NOIR) A Life at Stake - 1954 **

I always find myself feeling bad if I have a negative review to say about a noir, it's like I'm personally taking a swipe at it. I can't help it here however, as this film doesn't deserve much credit at all. One reviewer called the characters 'cardboard-like' and I have to say that I agree. Angela Lansbury doesn't really have the personality to be a 'femme fatale' and Keith Andes is neither charming or exciting to watch as the lead role. Andes starts an affair with Lansbury after she approaches him with a business proposition involving the purchasing of some land. However, before long he starts to panic that both she and her husband are plotting to kill him, but cannot get anyone to believe him.
The acting isn't brilliant, and the plot is diluted far too much. In short, just not a very good film.

(NOIR) The Enforcer - 1951 ****

Incredibly powerful and well paced classic noir starring Humphrey Bogart as an intimidating law enforcer who gets himself embroiled with some dangerous men which we see through a variety of flashbacks. Very tense and very entertaining movie. One of Bogart's last.

(NOIR) Out of the Fog - 1941 ***

John Garfield is an amazing actor but he doesn't half play some unlikeable characters. Here he plays a bootlegger who makes his living beating up people who won't give him money, and stumbles into a situation where he falls for the daughter of one of his latest victims. Ida Lupino plays her usual stupid, dense self who becomes infatuated by Garfield even when she finds out he is blackmailing her father.
Not your usual noir, as its set around the waterfront, but one to watch once.

(NOIR) Loan Shark 1952 **

A rather weak noir with George Raft fronting as an ex-con who is infiltrated into a group of vicious loan sharks in order to put a stop to the attacks and threats made to the people who can't pay up. He of course falls in love with a beautiful woman and has to decide whether his morals are more important than his romantic life. Wouldn't watch again.

Gangster Squad - 2013 ****

Gangster Squad is one of those films i know I'm going to like before i watch it. It was better than 'Lawless' but not as good as a typical 1940s noir. Sean Penn was almost unrecognisable as Mickey Cohen, the sadistic leader of the gang which has total control of the whole of Chicago. Emma Stone plays his beautiful abused mistress, and Ryan Gosling plays the cop who falls in love with her, whilst trying to put an end to the bloody violence.
It's typical Hollywood. Glitzy, glamorous and indulgent. I enjoyed it, although found that it ran on a bit.