Lady in the Lake (1947)

A most unusual film directed by & starring Robert Montgomery as Philip Marlowe in the first person! Montgomery’s detective character introduces the crime drama himself while talking to the camera; he then goes through the story during which all the clues are given such that the audience is challenged to figure it out before the end. All the other actors speak directly to the camera – the audience is Marlowe who is knocked out flipped over in an automobile crawls across the ground etc. and (on at least one other occasion) speaks directly to the camera again. We see Montgomery’s hands feet and even his face periodically when he looks in a mirror.

Based on the Raymond Chandler (Double Indemnity (1944)) novel with a screenplay by Steve Fischer (Destination Tokyo (1943)) the film doesn’t really work. It was interesting idea but it gets bogged down by (and because of?) this unique point of view making its 105 minute length feel much longer. It’s odd enough watching the actors’ emote to the camera odder still seeing them stand there expressionless. The story itself isn’t all that compelling either even if it does keep one guessing up until the film’s final frames. Audrey Totter plays a femme fatale of sorts; initially it’s she who hires Marlowe to find the missing wife of her publisher boss (Leon Ames) a successful man she hopes one day to “land” for herself. Lloyd Nolan plays a tough police lieutenant who plays outside the rules Tom Tully plays Nolan’s police captain. Jayne Meadows and Dick Simmons (among others) play two who figure in the mystery.

Purchase this DVD COLLECTION now at