Lady in the Lake (1947)

Director:

Robert Montgomery

Writers:

Raymond Chandler (novel)
Steve Fisher (screenplay)

Release Date:

14 April 1947 (Sweden)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Film-Noir | Mystery

Tagline:

M*G*M presents a Revolutionary motion picture; the most amazing since Talkies began! YOU and ROBERT MONTGOMERY solve a murder mystery together!

Plot:

The camera shows Phillip Marlowe's view from the first-person in this adaptation of Raymond Chandler's book...

Plot Keywords:

Told In Flashback | Subjective Camera | Talk To Camera | Point Of View | Private Eye

Cast

Robert Montgomery	...	Philip Marlowe
Audrey Totter	...	Adrienne Fromsett
Lloyd Nolan	...	Lt. DeGarmot
Tom Tully	...	Police Captain Fergus K. Kane
Leon Ames	...	Derace Kingsby
Jayne Meadows	...	Mildred Haveland
Dick Simmons	...	Chris Lavery
Morris Ankrum	...	Eugene Grayson
Lila Leeds	...	Receptionist
William Roberts	...	Artist
Kathleen Lockhart	...	Mrs. Grayson
Ellay Mort	...	Chrystal Kingsby

Also Known As:

A Dama do Lago (Brazil) (Portugal) [pt]
Dame du lac, La (Belgium: French title) (France) [fr]
Dama del lago, La (Spain) [es]
Dame im See, Die (Germany) [de]
Dame van het meer, De (Belgium: Flemish title) [un]
Donna nel lago, Una (Italy) [it]
Kvinnan i sjön (Sweden) [sv]
Nainen järvessä (Finland) [fi]

Runtime:

105 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Certification:

Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15 | USA:Approved (PCA #11083, Adult Audience)

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivia:

The actress Ellay Mort is credited in the role of Chrystal Kingsby. This person does not exist. The credit is a joke, as the name is phonetic for the French phrase "elle est morte" or "she is dead."

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: When Lieutenant DeGarmot is punched and he hits the floor, we can see the taped marks on the floor used for the actors.

Quotes:

Adrienne Fromsett: [to Marlowe] I want to be your girl, that's what I want for Christmas.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005)

Soundtrack:

The First Noel

Film noir with a unique twist

Out of the many Marlowe novel adaptations, this must be one of the closest to the spirit of the original. Unfortunately Chandler himself does not seem to have had the opportunity to contribute to the screenplay - although there are plenty of Chandleresque wisecracks. The film, unlike most of the other adaptions reflects the original author's full dislike of the cops (although the tough police chief having to answer a telephone call from his daughter during an interrogation is an unusual appeal for the viewer's understanding), and mistrust bordering on pathological hatred of women (I suspect that the ending is an uncharacteristic 'cop out' to assuage the producer's or popular taste). Director/star Robert Montgomery shows great self-restraint by appearing only briefly in the action. When he does show himself, mainly in mirror-reflections, the star appears (as in that other great latter day film noir, China Town) battered and bruised and not at all flattering. The plot is suitably twisted and confusing - just like the novels. And the concept of timing the whole dark affair against the backdrop of the Christmas holidays only emphasises the bleakness of the subject matter. Incidentally the idea of continuing the opening titles' jolly Christmas carol chorus in darker, more disturbing tones throughout the soundtrack is fascinating and I think unique. Audrey Totter (whatever happened to her?) makes a very sexy femme fatale. And as she plays most of her lines to camera we are seduced just as protagonist Marlowe. On top of that, her gowns are absolutely magnificent examples of forties chic. Lloyd Nolan deserves special mention as a superb heavy. What a wonderful example of Hollywood film noir.