In a Lonely Place (1950) – Film Review

Director: Nicholas Ray
Cast: Humphrey Bogart, Gloria Grahame, Carl Benton Reid
Certificate: PG

by Dan Berlinka

Remarkable noir variant that has less interest in the more traditional crime plot, than in a creating a dark, yet realistic psychological portrait.

It exposes the pathology that always lurks beneath Bogart’s screen persona, previously seen in The Treasure of the Sierra Madre and again later in The Caine Mutiny.

It’s a fearless and committed performance (let’s not forget, the film was made by Bogart’s own production company). He matches perfectly with Gloria Graham in what is probably her career best role.

“A low-key must-see masterpiece”

The pair create a believable, and at times terrifying picture of an abusive and suffocating relationship.

Almost by the by, the movie also completely captures the bitter self-loathing of the screenwriter for hire (no, I’m not projecting – why d’you ask?) and all in all, this is a low-key must-see masterpiece.
9/10