PITFALL
US, 1948, 86 minutes, Black and white.
Dick Powell, Lizabeth Scott, Jane Wyatt, Raymond Burr.
Directed by Andre de Toth.
Pitfall is a small film, a type of film noir of the late 1940s. Dick Powell, who appeared in musicals in the 1930s, changed his screen persona in the 1940s and appeared in many detective stories and film noir, including his turn as Sam Spade in Murder My Sweet. He is a strong presence in film, very serious in this one.
While it is a film noir, Lizabeth Scott is not the kind of femme fatale who is sinister and betraying the hero. Rather, she is a model, caught in an awkward situation with the man who has embezzled money to buy gifts for her, is attracted to the insurance agent who visits her, not knowing that he is married. Raymond Burr is the heavy, a private detective who becomes infatuated with Lizabeth Scott and stalks her.
The film has the background of an ordinary family, with Jane Wyatt as the devoted wife of a man who has served in the war, finds his job and life far too routine, is open to the possibility of an affair and succumbs.
The film was directed by Andre De Toth, director of many action films and dramas at this time.
1. A variation on the film noir? A film of the late forties? American life after World War Two? From excitement to routine? To temptation?
2. Dick Powell and film noir? As John Forbes? Serious, war experience, assurance job, routines, bored, unhappiness? His manner towards his wife, towards his son? Gruff? at work? Details of his job? The discussions with Mac? His being ready for some change in his life?
3. Black and white photography, light and shadow? The American city, locations, homes, offices? The boat on the water? Prisons? Musical score?
4. The Forbes family, Susan as the devoted wife, practical, love for her son, patient with her husband? Supporting him, wanting to know what worried him? The shock of the truth? Considering divorce, the hurt? Not wanting her son to go through the dirt? Picking up John at the DA’s, her plan to try to make good? The message of the film, for stability?
5. Mac, Raymond Burr’s presence? His job and skills at detection? The situation with Mona and Smiley? His report? Attraction towards Mona? Talking it over with John? John tending to ignore him? His following John, stalking Mona? Unwelcome presence, her rejecting him? His visiting Smiley in prison? Changing his mentality towards Mona, towards John? Giving him the gun? the fights with John and bashing him? The final day, taking Smiley from prison? Urging him to go to John? With Mona, wanting her to pack?
6. John, the visit to Mona, snooping in her house, her photo catalogue? Getting the furs and jewels back? Her criticising him? Offering the drink, going on the boat, the exhilaration on the water? The drink, his staying out late, not going to his boss’s home for a meal, to play bridge? His returning to Mona? The infatuation, brief affair?
7. Mona, her character, cool, model, response to John, giving back the gifts, her relationship with Smiley? Her complaining about Mac and his manner? In the water, the boat, the drink, the affair? Liking John? Upset at hearing he was ill, the food, the drive, discovering his wife and son? Confronting him, his response? Her visits to Smiley, wanting a future? Her warning John, Mac in her apartment, the taunts, her shooting him? The arrest? Her future depending on whether Mac lived or not?
8. John, his conscience, the exhilaration of change, infatuation with Mona, the bashing by Mac, at home, back to work, the warning about Smiley coming, his visiting Smiley in jail? Trying to get Susan and his son out of the house? the dark, shooting? Calling the police? His confession of the truth? Going to work, going to the DA’s office, the severity of the DA’s comments? Always on his conscience that he had killed someone?
9. The plausibility of the plot, mid-life infatuation, consequences?
