Crime of Passion - A Film Noir

I watched Crime of Passion on FMC, a classic film channel that has commercials, unlike TCM, but I don't really mind the commercials since I grew up watching classic films on the local networks. I suppose it gives me a sense of nostalgia, though back then prescription drug commercials were non-existent (and I wish they still were - ugh - seems like every other ad is for a drug that treats some rare but frightening disorder that you should ask your doctor about - I HATE those ads!).

Anyway - Crime of Passion has all the elements that should have made it a great Film Noir. Barbara Stanwyck plays an ambitious newswoman who throws away a chance at a New York career for a marriage to a stalwart LA detective (Sterling Hayden, who seems kind of sleepy in this film). Of course, she gets tired of the cop wife routine pretty quickly and tries to get her husband promoted in any under-handed way she can think of, including sleeping with his boss (Raymond Burr).

One bad situation leads to another, resulting in a murder and an arrest. I'll leave out the details in case you ever want to watch it. But honestly, the film just doesn't have what it takes to be a great Film Noir. Stanwyck and Hayden's relationship, while passionate in the physical sense (there's a whole lot of smooching going on - LOL) just lacks something.

The director, Gerd Oswald, did some good things, like Star Trek and The Outer Limits, but this genre just wasn't his bag, I guess.

Still, it's an okay way to pass the time, especially if you can't get enough of Stanwyck, Hayden and Burr. And I never can! Lol

UPDATE: I've seen this film several more times and it grows on me more with each viewing. I honestly really like it now! It still feels a bit stilted to me, but the stars are irresistible, the locations are great, and the 50s clothes and cars always make me happy. 

Just goes to show you that a viewer should never write a review based on their first impressions of something. I try to give films a second chance - and I'm glad I did with this one!