What We're Watching: Jan

Fallen Angel
Directed by Otto Preminger. Starring Alice Faye, Dana Andrews and Linda Darnell.

This 1945 film follows a drifter, Eric, in a small town who falls for sultry waitress Stella. The waitress wants to marry a man with money. Eric marries unassuming heiress, June, for her bank account but Stella is soon found dead. The movie is a gritty whodunit with a twist ending. A significant aspect of the movie is that it is an example of American "film noir" - "black film" in French. This style, primarily of the 1940s and 1950s, often deals with themes of betrayal, failure and despair. There is frequently a con-man (Dana Andrews as Eric), a femme fatale (Linda Darnell as Stella) and a detective (Charles Bickford as Mark Judd). There are desolate streets and a distressing mood that is created by stylized cinematography - different from other movies of the time. The viewer feels pulled into a shadowy world with danger lurking. Film noir films of this period are oftentimes said to be a reflection of post-WWII disillusionment and the anxiety of the coming Cold War of the time. The DVD includes a commentary that provides much background on cast, location and technique. Fallen Angel is a fine example of film noir that includes other pictures such as Laura, Double Indemnity and Out of the Past.