Directed by John Brahm and based on the novel by Patricia Hamilton, this murky thriller set at the turn of the last century was produced in 1945. Starring Laird Cregar as George Harvey Bone, an early 20th century composer, Linda Darnell as the beautiful and manipulative singer, Netta Longdon, and George Saunders as Dr. Allan Middleton, this movie is a gem that needs little polishing.
Cregar is marvelous as the real life, troubled composer trying to produce a piano concerto. At a musical, he meets singer, Netta, who becomes the new inspiration for his concerto. Bone is plagued by stressful moments, which cause blackouts during which he cannot account for his time. He fears he may be a murderer, but has no memory of having committed any crimes.
He becomes particularly worried after finding himself in a different quarter of town and then reads a newspaper account that someone from that quarter was killed. Discordant sounds set him off and the viewer is caught up in Bone’s torment. Cregar’s ability to suck the viewer into his powerful performance is no more evident than in this extraordinary film. His eyes in particular seem to catapult all in their orbit into a world of anguish and madness.
The film reaches an eerie crescendo when, betrayed by Netta, Bone kills her in a fit of rage and is caught up in the of Guy Fawkes Day festivities. The bonfire scene takes one’s breath away. It is memorable and mesmerizing and completely captures Bone’s symbolic descent into the fires of hell and eternal condemnation.
This is a very different kind of film for its day, as its focus is the psychological dissipation of the leading character. Cregar’s star shone but not brightly or long enough, for he died of a heart attack at the age of thirty.
What are some of YOUR favorite moments from this extraordinary film?