I Wake Up Screaming - 1941 - 7/10
A rising socialite is found murdered! Prime suspects - her sportswriter boyfriend and her own sister.
The detective in charge is convinced of the boyfriend’s guilt and he begins to grind him down.
Highly influential, half forgotten thriller / mystery filled with flashbacks, pungent dialogue and pursuits.
For me, this is where the American "look” of Film Noir begins.
The detective in charge is convinced of the boyfriend’s guilt and he begins to grind him down.
Highly influential, half forgotten thriller / mystery filled with flashbacks, pungent dialogue and pursuits.
For me, this is where the American "look” of Film Noir begins.
The story and characters are not Noir, however. Time is still, barely, pre World War II.
Returning G.I.s would carry disillusionment and a grimmer outlook. The tone of this harks to an earlier time.
An underrated Victor Mature fine as the cornered sportswriter.
Betty Grable, before her mass popularity, radiant as lush American good girl.
The star, though, is Laird Cregar (only 24, looks older), tackle sized with purring voice.
Returning G.I.s would carry disillusionment and a grimmer outlook. The tone of this harks to an earlier time.
An underrated Victor Mature fine as the cornered sportswriter.
Betty Grable, before her mass popularity, radiant as lush American good girl.
The star, though, is Laird Cregar (only 24, looks older), tackle sized with purring voice.
Cregar, and brilliantly stylized camera work.
I Wake Up Screaming is packed with angles, shadows, and inventive camera movement.
DVD has outstanding commentary by Eddie Muller: anecdotes, histories, tragic lives of Cregar and Landis.
DVD has outstanding commentary by Eddie Muller: anecdotes, histories, tragic lives of Cregar and Landis.
