Thriller

Drama

Crime

The File on Thelma Jordon

Hal Wallis Productions

Wallis-Hazen Inc.

Paramount Pictures

United States of America

English

Barbara Stanwyck

Wendell Corey

Paul Kelly

Joan Tetzel

Stanley Ridges

Richard Rober

Minor Watson

Barry Kelley

Kasey Rogers

Basil Ruysdael

Jane Novak

Gertrude Hoffmann

Harry Antrim

Kate Drain Lawson

Theresa Harris

Byron Barr

Geraldine Wall

Jonathan Corey

Robin Corey

Bess Flowers

Nick Cravat

Eric Alden

Gertrude Astor

Rodney Bell

Eddie Borden

Ethel Bryant

Clancy Cooper

John Cortay

Jim Davies

Helen Dickson

Dot Farley

Franklyn Farnum

Mary Gordon

William Hamel

Sam Harris

Lew Harvey

Art Howard

Virginia Hunter

Jerry James

Geraldine Jordan

Nolan Leary

Sam McDaniel

William Meader

Walter Merrill

Ottola Nesmith

Garry Owen

Eddie Parks

Lee Phelps

Ezelle Poule

Jack Roberts

Stephen Roberts

Charles Sherlock

Bert Stevens

Harry Templeton

Kenneth Tobey

Arthur Tovey

Dorothy Vernon

Lynn Whitney

Michael Ann Barrett

Fairy Cunningham

Caroline Fitzharris

Howard Gardiner

Bill Hawes

Dorothy Klewer

Walter Bacon

Joe Evans

Stan Johnson

Lorna Jordon

Marjorie Kane

Victor Romito

Marty Holland

Robert Siodmak

Ketti Frings

Hal B. Wallis

George Barnes

Victor Young

Harry Lindgren

Sam Comer

A. Earl Hedrick

Wally Westmore

Warren Low

Walter Oberst

Francisco Day

Hans Dreier

Bertram C. Granger

Gordon Jennings

Farciot Edouart

Edith Head

I'm no good for any man for any longer than a kiss!

The File on Thelma Jordon is directed by Robert Siodmak and written by Ketti Frings and Marty Holland. It stars Barbara Stanwyck, Wendell Corey, Paul Kelly, Joan Tetzel, Stanley Ridges and Richard Rober. Music is by Victor Young and cinematography by George Barnes.

Assistant district attorney Cleve Marshall (Corey) falls for Thelma Jordon (Stanwyck) after she seeks help solving a problem with prowlers and burglars. But is there more to Thelma than meets the eye?

Probably due to availability issues in home viewing formats, this appears to be one of film noir legends Siodmak and Stanwyck's under seen pictures. Which is a shame, for although it is often tagged as something of a lesser value Double Indemnity, it's a noir that noir lovers can get great rewards from.

As we are in noirville the plot isn't at all surprising. Stanwyck fronts up for what we expect is femme fatale duty, Corey looks to be on course for being a hapless loser dude, Kelly is up for some tough copper portrayal, while Rober stalks the edges of the frame as bad news bloke. A despicable crime is at the core of the story, and characterisations are straight out of the dark alleyway (Thelma has murky secrets and ideals, Wendell is unhappily married with a drink problem). Running at 100 minutes in length, the pic does feel a touch too long, especially given that the first thirty minutes is focused on building the principal players, where they are at in their life and the build up of their relationship. This asks for faith in staying with the piece, in hope it rewards for the following hour plus. Thankfully it does.

As the crime arrives, we are treated to noir nirvana as per style of film making. It's the middle of the night in a house menaced by shadows as the wind bashes an open window shutter. For a good twenty minutes, prior to - during - and post the crime, the house is a scary monstrous place, perfect for a dark deed to be enacted. The great Siodmak (The Killers, The Spiral Staircase, Criss Cross) is in his element on this, where aided by the superb photographic skills of Barnes (Rebecca, Force of Evil), the staging of scenes and the visuals enhance the moody machinations of the plot. As does Young's  dramatic musical score. So with acting performances comfortably on par for the good the tech credits are high.

Irks come with that drawn out first third of film, and the ending poses some question marks as well. Personally I would have liked it to have finished five minutes earlier, but as it stands there's a sort of double whammy with the finale. Some will find it contrived, others will applaud the ultimate outcome since it doesn't cop out. Either way, this is a noir film worthy of seeking out for the like minded purveyors of such things. 7/10

File On Thelma Jordan Trailer Youtube

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The File on Thelma Jordon

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Cast

Barbara Stanwyck

Wendell Corey

Paul Kelly

Joan Tetzel

Stanley Ridges

Richard Rober

Minor Watson

Barry Kelley

Kasey Rogers

Basil Ruysdael

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