Whirlpool (film)

Infobox_Film
name = Whirlpool


caption = Theatrical Poster
director = Otto Preminger
producer = Otto Preminger
writer = Story: Guy Endore Screenplay: Ben Hecht Andrew Solt
narrator =
starring = Gene Tierney,
Richard Conte,
José Ferrer,
Charles Bickford
music = David Raksin
cinematography = Arthur C. Miller
editing = Louis R. Loeffler
distributor = 20th Century Fox
released = November 28, 1949 (U.S.A.)
runtime = 98 minutes
country = United States
language = English
amg_id = 1:116686
imdb_id = 0042039|

"Whirlpool" (1949) is a drama film noir directed by Otto Preminger and written by Ben Hecht (under the blacklist pseudonym Lester Barstow) and Andrew Solt, adapted from Guy Endore's novel "Methinks the Lady." The film features Gene Tierney, Richard Conte, José Ferrer, and Charles Bickford. [imdb title|id=0042039|title=Whirlpool.]

The drama combines psychological thriller (the heroine is controlled by a murderous hypnotist) with melodrama, as the central character's distant marriage is threatened.

Plot

Ann Sutton (Gene Tierney), the wife of a successful psychoanalyst (Richard Conte), is arrested for shoplifting. Ann is saved from scandal by smooth-talking hypnotist David Korvo (José Ferrer).

Korvo is not what he seems to be, and Ann soon finds herself involved in blackmail and murder. She is unsure whether or not she committed a crime. Her distant but loyal husband stands up for her and eventually sets up the hypnotist, who he thinks is behind all the misdeeds.

Cast

* Gene Tierney as Ann Sutton
* Richard Conte as Dr. William Sutton
* José Ferrer as David Korvo
* Charles Bickford as Lt. Colton
* Barbara O'Neil as Theresa Randolph
* Eduard Franz as Martin Avery
* Constance Collier as Tina Cosgrove
* Fortunio Bonanova as Feruccio di Ravallo

Critical reception

The staff at "Variety" magazine liked the film and wrote, "Whirlpool" is a highly entertaining, exciting melodrama that combines the authentic features of hypnosis. Ben Hecht and Andrew Solt have tightly woven a screenplay [from a novel by Guy Endore] about the effects of hypnosis on the subconscious, but they, and Otto Preminger in his direction, have eliminated the phoney characteristics that might easily have allowed the picture to slither into becoming just another eerie melodrama." [ [http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117796324.html?categoryid=31&cs=1 "Variety"] . Film review, 1949. Last accessed: February 6] , 2008.]

While film critic Bosley Crowther gave the film a mixed review, he still appreciated the acting, and wrote, "Yet, as we say, this flapdoodle, written by Ben Hecht and Andrew Solt from a novel by Guy Endore, has been handsomely produced and played by a cast which is distinguished by Jose Ferrer in its midst. Mr. Ferrer, the Broadway champion, is the smooth and piercing villain of the piece who mouths Mr. Hecht's silken phrases with acid savor and burns folks with his eyes. Furthermore, haughty Gene Tierney plays the lady who is slightly off the track and Charles Bickford and Richard Conte are the detective and the husband, respectively. All together, along with several others, they labor to cast a spell. But their efforts are bleakly artificial. You'd better see this one in a state of trance." [ [http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9903E6D9163EEF3BBC4C52DFB766838B649EDE Crowther, Bosley] . "The New York Times," film review, January 14, 1950. Last accessed: February 6, 2008.]

England's Channel 4, as well, gave the film a mixed review, but lauded the screenplay and direction. They wrote, "All this is fairly ridiculous and the plot is full of implausible twists, not to mention daft theories. Luckily, Tierney carries the role of the innocent beauty with ease and has a particularly good line in gliding around blank-faced as if under hypnosis - and in showing her character's subsequent distraught confusion. Conte is stiff and wooden - but no more so than his formal man-of-science role requires, while Ferrer is a compelling cartoon villain. Hecht's dialogue is as snappy as ever, and Preminger cranks up the tension with consummate skill, building towards a dramatic and satisfying conclusion." [ [http://www.channel4.com/film/reviews/film.jsp?id=110186&page=2 Channel 4] . Film review, 2008. Last accessed: February 6, 2008.]

ee also

*Mental illness in films

References

External links

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* [http://noiroftheweek.blogspot.com/2007/12/whrilpool-1949.html "Whirlpool"] at Film Noir of the Week.
* [http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film/DVDReview2/whirlpool.htm "Whirlpool"] at DVD Beaver (includes images).