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Undescribable Perfection

Funny, strange, confrontational and subversive, this is one of the most interesting experiences you'll have at the cinema this year.

Although I seem to have had higher expectations than I thought, the movie is super entertaining.

The storyline feels a little thin and moth-eaten in parts but this sequel is plenty of fun.

THE WOMAN IN WINDOW is pretty interesting mystery melodrama. I think the script is very good and sophisticated so that the unusual and satirical way circumscribes a criminal story. I am aware of the fact that the last scenes of the film divided audiences. I'm thrilled. The original and a little magic.I'm sure it's a surprise that brings the end of the film in most people turned into disappointment. Classic denouement murder in this case no. Mr. Lang and his team were well played. The story is simple. Acting is at a high level.Edward G. Robinson as Professor Richard Wanley is simply good. His appearance will not leave anyone breathless, but it's hard to find a complaint. Simply good. Joan Bennett as Alice Reed has afforded us a very good performance. A woman came out of the image. Impressive is it seen as a frightened and vulnerable woman on one side and a very skillful and enthusiastic negotiator on the other side. Raymond Massey as Dist. Atty. Frank Lalor was in a little satirical police investigation flawless. Dan Duryea as Heidt/Tim, the Doorman is very good in the role of the blackmailer. The dog who smelled burnt. It would be wonderful if this film misses a classic villain. But I am satisfied with the fact that the only villain paid with his life for something he did not do.This film works honestly. Why dream would not be honest? Elaboration is infallible. The focus is on the investigation of the murder, in which indirectly participate killer himself. Uncertainty is a constant. Awakening is certain.

Edward G. and Joan Bennett star in a noirish crime drama that feels almost surreal (with god reason, as the ending makes plain). Robinson is a staid professor whose family is off on a weekend jaunt. He meets an alluring woman who invites him to he apartment for "drinks and." When her psycho boyfriend unexpectedly shows up, the prof ends up killing him during a scuffle. To protect himself and the gal, he gets rid of the body. Then the fun really starts. Edward G. is at the top of his form here, and Bennett is sexy and ever so slightly tawdry, even fully clothed. The ending, which has been used or misused in many movies before and since, here works beautifully. I am surprised I had never seen this particular melodrama until now. I am no spring chicken, and used to be a film critic, to boot.

Woman in the Window, The (1944) *** 1/2 (out of 4) Tense thriller from director Lang has family man Professor Richard Wanley (Edward G. Robinson) having a brief night out with a woman (Joan Bennett) who he had earlier seen a portrait of in a window. Soon a man she had been with in the past shows up in the room and the professor ends up killing him to save his own life. Not wanting to go to the police, the two decide to dump the man's body but it's soon discovered and the two begin to fear that the other is going to go to the police. This is yet another very impressive film from Lang who deserves a lot of the credit but so does the screenplay and performances. I think the film starts off a tad bit slow but once the murder actually takes place things start to heat up and by the time the ending comes your finger nails will have been bitten all the way down. What impressed me the most was Lang's decision to film the majority of the early part of the film in long shots. At first I thought it was rather strange that he'd film it this way but as we lead up to the murder and the scenes after it it becomes obvious that shooting in these long shots actually works because it really makes you feel as if you're a third character who eventually shows up to blackmail them. I thought this long shots were perfectly used by Lang because it really makes the viewer feel distant from what's going on but at the same time you're witnessing something you're not suppose to be seeing just as the characters themselves hope they're not being seen. Throughout the rest of the film we get more medium and close ups as the net around Robinson and Bennett begins to grow tighter. Robinson made a career out of playing tough guys but he was such a great actor that he could play someone much smaller just like this character. I thought he did a wonderful job especially in the scenes where he's about to crack from the pressure. Bennett made for a terrific femme fatale because she was so seduction but also very good in the more quiet moments where she too begins to fear the police. The supporting cast features strong performances from Edmund Breon, Dan Duryea and Raymond Massey. While this is an extremely good movie I still found some flaws including some of Robinson's actions after the police get involved. I thought there were a few too many clues that he throws out because of some dumb words he says or him pretty much leading the police to suspect him. I thought the clues were just way too obvious and I thought it went against his character to be this stupid. Then, of course, there's the rather controversial ending. I won't ruin it for people but I didn't like it. It's not downright horrible like many would have you believe but it just didn't work.

This movie is a cinematic masterpiece. There is nothing that can be done to improve this movie. It is as close to perfection as is humanly possible to achieve. Outstanding acting, a wonderfully engaging story, snappy dialog, and terrific cinematography make this movie one of the best ever. Edward G. Robinson shows why he is one of the greatest actors in history and Joan Bennett was fantastic as the woman who is the center of all the ruckus. But it was Dan Duryea's performance that is particularly noteworthy. Further compliments are superfluous. The movie speaks for itself. Its continuity, marvelous acting and fast pace are evidence of great direction. What a great movie!