Barbara

I seem to remember this movie played on network stations back in the day, and I must have seen it, only I don’t remember anything about it.

Thanks to Alan for sharing the news that a good print of this movie does exist and that an already prepared dvd commentary with Messrs. Janis and Muller lies awaiting release. It would have seemed a logical choice for the excellent Fox Noir series of the last few years. I’d also love to see a Region 1 dvd made of the John Brahm directed movie, The Locket from RKO, (there is already a Region 2 one).

Al,
Darryl F. Zanuck made some bold choices for themes and innovative storytelling techniques during his time as a mogul, particularly in the immediate postwar years. As Philip Dunne, Jean Negulesco, Joseph Mankiewicz and Otto Preminger would readily attest, his true gift may not have been as a mogul or as the writer he fancied himself to be, but as an editor, who could cut through the sometimes tangled exposition that writers could get themselves into and show them the best way to tell stories cinematically. Zanuck also was a showman, and not above making a quick buck for his studio by riding a wave in a certain genre that proved popular. As with many moguls, they were faced with a surfeit of talent at the height of the studio system and, as a result, in the case of the talented John Brahm on the payroll, he needed to keep this man busy. Thus, he gave him The Brasher Doubloon script, and, according to the oral history recorded by Brahm at USC in 1973, proceeded to cut the budget and the script, contributing to the director’s increased disaffection for the studio, (which had also deepened after the death of Brahm‘s friend and gifted star in some of his best films at Fox, Laird Cregar).

It is very heartening to see that others are interested in a relatively obscure film, which remains an intriguing example of John Brahm‘s talent.

As always, you’ve made me want to see this movie!

I know that distribution of the great old movies is often held up due to rights issues. But I suspect there’s another problem too.
It reminds me of that current release He’s Just Not That Into You. The people in charge of releasing classic films just aren’t that into old movies.
Noone doubts the devotion of the Morlocks or we who contribute responses to their columns. And, of course, TCM has a lot of people who obviously really care.
But, and I wish I was wrong, I think some people in charge of making release decisions just do not have a clue.

Anyway, good post. I have read all of Chandler and saw (and own) all the other available Marlowe films. I always love when Martha Vickers tells Bogart in the two versions of The Big Sleep that he is not very tall and he responds, “I try to be.”

I sure wish TCM or Fox or SOMEBODY would make these films generally available.