Joseph L. Mankiewicz (pre - A Letter To Three Wives and All About Eve and only his 2nd directorial effort) turns a low budget 'B' cast with quintessential "amnesia victim" ploy into Film Noir excellence. Actually the villains, anti-heroes and conventions of Noir were just formulating with this little 1946 gem. It actually helped define the genre. A complex film, evenly paced and excellent performances from the likes of John Hodiak (as a soldier who returns to the front with his amnesia slowly determining if, in his former life, he may or may not have been a murderer), Lloyd Nolan and the ever faithful Noir companion - Richard Conte. Lets not forget the ladies - watch for Nancy Guild who had never acted before being signed to a movie contract - she is perfect noir. What pure fun and future influences on this "Black Cinema" that we love so much.  out of    

Gary W. Tooze