OUT OF THE FOG
(Warner Brosa
UR little man found himself in something of a quandary over Out of the Fog. It is one of the most inter-
esting--and most trritating--films’ he has seen in months, and there were moments when the transition from stand-up claps to sit-down slumps was so rapid that a casual observer might have thought he was indulging in some obscure. variety of Swedish drill. Adapted (but apparently only to a minor degree) from.a stage-play called The Gentle People, by Irwin Shaw, the film is a foggy affair, strongly reminiscent in this respect of The Informer and Winterset. And there are one or two scenes which could rank with any in those classics. The unfortunate thing is that hardly one of these good scenes but is spoiled by some error in taste, timing, or psychology. Humour or farce is introduced too soon, in an attempt fo relieve dramatic tension, and at times-and particularly in the ending-one feels that a half-hearted attempt has been made to compromise between realism and sentimentality. The fault, however, lies with Anatole Litvak, the director, and not with the players. Out of the Fog, therefore, is not truly an "A" grade show, but for those who like art as well as entertainment from the cinema, and who can stand the dramatic flaws for the sake of the virtues which make them more apparent, this. picture should be a "must". In the thankless part of a small+time "protection" racketeer, John Garfield is splendid. Ida Lupino, as the thrill-hungry girl who succumbs to his fatal attiaction against her conscious will and the moral sanctions of her upbringing, is very much better than she had any chance of being in High Sierra-though her role is not so dissimilar. The chief supporting players are Thomas Mitchell and John Qualen, who were last seen together (with Rita Hayworth) in Angels Over Broadway, an equally interesting film with a similar crepuscular atmosphere. And those who. saw that Hecht production will not. be surprised when I add that the real star of Out of . the Fog is Mitchell, who turns in a per- . formance that would get him an Academy Award if the film was likely to be a success at the box-office. Which, I’m. afraid, it isn’t. Rape
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/periodicals/NZLIST19421211.2.31.1.1
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New Zealand Listener, Volume 7, Issue 181, 11 December 1942, Page 17
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380OUT OF THE FOG New Zealand Listener, Volume 7, Issue 181, 11 December 1942, Page 17
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Copyright in the work University Entrance by Janet Frame (credited as J.F., 22 March 1946, page 18), is owned by the Janet Frame Literary Trust. The National Library has been granted permission to digitise this article and make it available online as part of this digitised version of the New Zealand Listener. You can search, browse, and print this article for research and personal study only. Permission must be obtained from the Janet Frame Literary Trust for any other use.
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