Lady In the Lake

027538 / 16 / US / 1946 / Montgomery, Robert / thriller
Lady In the Lake / Nainen järvessä. © MGM. P: George Haight. D: Robert Montgomery. SC: Steve Fisher - based on the novel (1943) [and the rough draft screenplay] of Raymond Chandler. CAST: Robert Montgomery (Philip Marlowe), Lloyd Nolan (Ltn. DeGarmot), Audrey Totter (Adrienne Fromsett), Tom Tully (Capt. Kane), Leon Ames (Derace Kingsby), Jayne Meadows (Mildred Haveland). 103’. B&w Academy. MPAA Seal of Approval 11803. BBFC: Passed for Adult Audiences. Print: NFTVA. Viewed in Helsinki, SEA, Cinema Orion, Tuesday 24 February 1998. * This rare experimental Hollywood film has been seen in Finland after its premiere only once on TV (two years ago). The experiment with rigid first person point of view is famous and totally unsuccessful. Lady In the Lake is rather a lesson how a film should not be made. By abandoning the basic shot-reverse-shot method the film-makers seriously weaken true identification. The experience is strange and boring. Robert Montgomery is not a good Philip Marlowe. Marlowe should impress us more with his wit than with his gun. But Montgomery’s sense of humour is limited, and his wisecracks lack momentum. All other performances are wooden, as well. The screenwriters have built the role of Adrienne Fromsett considerably: she is a strong, ambiguous, interesting woman. In the end, however, she succumbs to the traditional role of ”Marlowe’s girl”.