Friday, December 09, 2022

TCM’s Film Noir of the Week Saturday Night-Sunday Morning at 12:15 and 10 a.m. ET is Robert Stevenson’s Walk Softly, Stranger (1950) with Joseph Cotten, (Alida) Valli, Spring Byington, Paul Stewart and John McIntire

By David in TN
friday, december 9, 2022 at 6:27:00 p.m. est

TCM’s Film Noir of the Week Saturday Night-Sunday Morning at 12:15 and 10 a.m. ET is Robert Stevenson’s Walk Softly, Stranger (1950) with Joseph Cotten, (Alida) Valli, Spring Byington, Paul Stewart and John McIntire.

Film Noir Guide: “While hiding out after his last robbery, a small-time crook (Cotten) falls in love with a crippled girl (Valli), and decides to go straight. Complicating his plan is his on-the-run, former partner (Stewart), who shows up looking for a place to hide.

“McIntire is Cotten’s boss at his legit factory job, and Jack Paar, before his TV heyday as The Tonight Show host, plays Cotten’s co-worker and poker buddy. Byington (TV’s December Bride) is Cotten’s sweet, old landlady. Except for a terrific car crash, this romantic melodrama is snooze material.”

David in TN: I don't recall ever seeing this film. Reviews are negative. Walk Softly, Stranger’s selling point seems to be Cotten and Valli soon after both were in The Third Man (1949). “Raspy-voiced” Paul Stewart is usually fun to watch.

N.S.: Joe Cotten had some kind of run during the 1940s, with one masterpiece or classic after another, often co-starring with Jennifer Jones (though the Academy always cheated him out of Oscar nominations):

Citizen Kane (1941)

Shadow of a Doubt (1943)

Since You Went Away (1944)

Gaslight (1944)

I’ll be Seeing You (1944)

Love Letters (1945)

Duel in the Sun (1946)

The Farmer’s Daughter (1947)

Portrait of Jenny (1948)

The Third Man (1949)

But then the great scripts stopped coming.



2 comments:

David In TN said...

If you don't like the films Red Eddie Muller has been showing lately on Noir Alley, on Tuesday Night-Monday Morning starting at 8 p.m. ET, TCM is showing in succession, the films made of Raymond Chandler's Philip Marlowe novels.

The first is Edward Dmytryk's Murder My Sweet (1944), followed by Howard Hawks' The Big Sleep (1946) at 10 p.m. ET, Robert Montgomery's Lady in the Lake (1946) at Midnight, Farewell My Lovely (1975) at 2 a.m. and Marlowe (1969) at 4 a.m. ET.

Farewell My Lovely (1975) stars Robert Mitchum as Philip Marlowe. Marlowe (1969) has James Garner in the role. Both are in color.

Sometimes Eddie Muller guest hosts on "Special" nights.

David In TN said...

TCM's Film Noir of the Week Saturday Night-Sunday Morning at Midnight and 10 a.m. ET is Mr. Soft Touch (1949) with Glenn Ford and Evelyn Keyes, directed by Gordon Douglas and Henry Levin.

INDB: "When he learns that a gangster has taken over his nightclub and murdered his partner, returning WW2 hero Joe Miracle steals the money from the club's safe and hides in a settlement home, while the mob is on his tail."

David In TN: I haven't seen Mr. Soft Touch and it isn't on the Noir listings, but it seems to have a Noirish premise. Red Eddie Muller is trying to show lesser known films. Evelyn Keyes is a big favorite of Eddie's.