[Of related interest: “Ride the Pink Horse (1947): Robert Montgomery Stars in, and Directs a Classic Film Noir, with a Ben Hecht-Charles Lederer Script, about a Disillusioned World War II Veteran.”]
By David in TN
Thursday, July 29, 2021 at 12:48:00 A.M. EDT
TCM shows Confidential Agent(1945) based on a Graham Greene novel with Charles Boyer, Lauren Bacall, Victor Francen, Wanda Hendrix, Peter Lorre and Katina Paxinou at 3:45 p.m. ET Friday afternoon.
Film Noir Guide: “A Spanish patriot (Boyer) travels secretly to England to purchase coal for the Loyalist cause in Spain, but his every move is thwarted by his Fascist nemesis (Francen). Fortunately for Boyer, he meets up with the coal mining company owner’s daughter (Bacall); she falls hard for him and helps him elude police, who wrongly suspect he’s a murderer. Hendrix is the 14-year old girl whose crush on Boyer leads to tragedy, and Lorre and Paxinou are the Spanish quislings who are interested more in gold than coal. Bacall, who made no attempt to disguise her American accent, isn’t believable as the aristocratic English girl who falls for the Spaniard. Boyer gives an enjoyable low-key performance, but Lorre and Paxinou, both of whom brazenly ham it up, are the top attractions.”
David: Confidential Agent is better than most of what Eddie Muller has been showing on Noir Alley in recent months.
Warner Brothers held back The Big Sleep, and shot new scenes for it to make Bacall look good, because they feared bad reviews for her poor portrayal of an English upper-class girl could destroy her career.
Boyer seems more like the Frenchman he was than the Spaniard he plays, but is very good.
Wanda Hendrix was Audie Murphy’s first wife.
Confidential Agent has a dark and brooding atmosphere, with most of the action taking place at night.
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