Lively, entertaining reviews of, and essays on, old and newer films and everything relating to them, written by professional author William Schoell.

Thursday, February 4, 2016

THE OTHER WOMAN

Hugo Haas and Cleo Moore
THE OTHER WOMAN (1954). Producer/ director/writer: Hugo Haas.

Film director Walter Darman (Hugo Haas) quickly needs a gal, any gal, to say three lines in a scene he's currently shooting. Ambitious Sherry Stewart (Cleo Moore), a member of the crew, is drafted, but does a pretty bad job and is replaced in the scene. Not tightly wrapped, Sherry's anger toward Darman and her allegedly lost opportunity for stardom is blown out of all proportion; she inveigles her boyfriend, Ronnie (Lance Fuller of The She-Creature) to help her get even with the man. It all leads to scheming, blackmail, and ultimately, murder. Yes, this is yet another Haas-Moore collaboration, and while it holds the attention, it never really sizzles as it should. Haas is fine, as always, and Moore is vivid but somehow second-rate. Darman and his father-in-law, movie producer Jack Macy (Charles Lester) have conversations about what constitutes a good movie, although Haas seems to have left out good characterization and dialogue. The movie has a very, very early use of the world "sexist." One character's attempt to come up with an alibi is laughably inept.

Verdict: Low level film noir. **.

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