Lady in the Lake

Infobox_Film
name = Lady in the Lake


caption = French Theatrical Poster
director = Robert Montgomery
producer = George Haight
writer = Story: Raymond Chandler Screenplay: Steve Fisher
starring = Robert Montgomery Audrey Totter Lloyd Nolan Tom Tully
Leon Ames Jayne Meadows
music = David Snell
cinematography = Paul Vogel
editing = Gene Ruggiero
distributor = Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
released = January 23, 1947 (U.S.A.)
runtime = 105 minutes
country = United States
language = English
amg_id = 1:28095
imdb_id = 0039545|

"Lady in the Lake" (1947) is a "film noir" drama that marked the directorial debut of actor Robert Montgomery who also starred in the film. Based on the 1944 Raymond Chandler novel "The Lady in the Lake." The picture features Audrey Totter, Lloyd Nolan, Tom Tully, Leon Ames and Jayne Meadows. [imdb title|id=0039545|title=Lady in the Lake.]

The storyline revolved around a conventional murder mystery similar to many others of the period, however it was notable for the perspective presented to the viewer. The entire film was seen from the viewpoint of the central character, the detective Philip Marlowe, played by Montgomery. The gimmick was that the audience would see only what the character saw, and MGM in its promotion of the film claimed that it was the first of its kind and the most revolutionary style of film since the introduction of the talkies.

The movie was also rare for having virtually no musical soundtrack.

Plot

The story is set on Christmas Eve. Hard-boiled private detective Philip Marlowe (Montgonery) is asked by a publishing executive, Adrienne Fromsett (Totter), to locate the wife of her boss, publisher Derace Kingsby (Ames). One month earlier she had sent her husband a telegram saying she was heading to Mexico to marry a man named Chris Lavery.

However Kingsby had recently seen Lavery in the neighboring Bay City, and Lavery seemed unaware of the trip to Mexico. Marlowe pursues his investigation at the Kingsby's lakeside cottage, where Mrs. Kingsby was last seen. There, he finds a Lavery shot dead, and he then becomes involved in a complex web of intrigue.

Cast

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

Critical reaction

"The New York Times" film critic wrote, "In making the camera an active participant, rather than an off-side reporter, Mr. Montgomery has, however, failed to exploit the full possibilities suggested by this unusual technique. For after a few minutes of seeing a hand reaching toward a door knob, or lighting a cigarette or lifting a glass, or a door moving toward you as though it might come right out of the screen the novelty begins to wear thin." [ [http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9C04E3DE123EEE3BBC4C51DFB766838C659EDE "The New York Times"] . Film review, January 24, 1947. Last accessed: December 29, 2007.]

References

External links

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