CORNERED

US, 1945, 102 Minutes, Black and White.
Dick Powell, Walter Slezak, Micheline Presle.
Directed by Edward Dymtryk.

Cornered is an interesting post-war thriller starring Dick Powell. A song-and-dance man in the 30s, her changed his image to the hero of thrillers in the 40s with his role as Philip Marlowe in Murder my Sweet. He was directed by Edward Dmytryk, who also directed him in this film. He was to make such films as Johnny O'Clock for Robert Rossen. Walter Slezak is an oily villain and the setting is Argentina and shows how from earliest times after World War II, focus of attention on Nazi criminals was on South America. Entertaining, action, and
somewhat dated now but, nonetheless, enjoyable.

1. An enjoyable and interesting thriller? A black tough thriller of the 40s? The picture of America at the time? Its appeal in its day; now?

2. The importance of black and white photography, the constant use of light and shadow? The sets with their air of reality and unreality? Buenos Aires and its atmosphere - the contrast with war-torn Europe? The melodramatic musical score?

3. The American point of view of the war, the Allies, war criminals, fascism? How do audiences respond to this now?

4. Dick Powell and his tough style and tough image? As a Canadian - with the tough American hero's virtues? His individualism, ruggedness going into danger, searching out the truth? The revenge motive?

5. The brief establishing of the setting - Lawrence Gerard, the war, getting the money compensation, his abrasive personality with the official in England, his attitude towards the law and smuggling himself into France, his discovery of the fate of the village and the motives for vengeance, the emotional drive, his seeking out of the clues? The rapid change of locations from England, the Channel, France, Belgium, Switzerland, Buenos Aires?

6. The atmosphere of Argentine - the Latin American touches, the hotels, the streets, the business, the Nazi criminals, the gangsters and the waterfront?

7. The initial encounter with Incza and his insinuating style? His servile attitude, shrewdness, brutality in murder, the trail, inevitable death? An ugly character of evil?

8. The picture of Buenos Aires society and its wealth, taking sides in the war, Carmago and his double deals, his wife? The revelation of the truth about them at the end?

9. Jarmac and his being helped by the Vichy government, his identity concealed, the set-up in South America, his establishing a wife whom he never met, Santana and trying to ferret out Jarmac? Carmago and the blackmail? The final tracking down, his appearance, brutality and murder? The importance of his long speech justifying himself and the indication of attitudes towards fascism? His death? Gerard trying to kill him?

10. Santana and his attempt to find the criminals, Diego and his posing as valet etc.? Dubois and the others and the league to find out the truth?

11. Madeline and her appearance at the party, Gerard's constant following her and the effect, her breaking down and her telling the truth, the danger from Jarmac?

12. Gerard's detective work - blunt approach, subtle styles, his violence, the rooms, his appointments?

13. Gerard as a type - before the war, a flyer, the impact of his marriage and his wife's death, his internment, operation and the psychological effect on him? Relentless and reckless? His behaviour in Switzerland, phoning his contacts? His bluffs? Argumentative, tough? The wisecracking and ironic remarks? Almost killing Dubois? The police wanting to deport him? Mrs. Carmago and her setting him up for murder? His final violence?

14. How satisfying the final resolutions and decisions and the prospect of a happy ending?