Mystery

Drama

Black Widow

20th Century Fox

United States of America

English

Van Heflin

Reginald Gardiner

Gene Tierney

Peggy Ann Garner

Ginger Rogers

George Raft

Virginia Leith

Otto Kruger

Cathleen Nesbitt

Skip Homeier

Hilda Simms

Mabel Albertson

Bea Benaderet

Nesdon Booth

Paul Bradley

Steve Carruthers

Harry Carter

Paul Cristo

Oliver Cross

Frances Curry

Richard H. Cutting

Anthony De Mario

Franklyn Farnum

Dick Gordon

Robert Haines

Kenner G. Kemp

Paul Kruger

Virginia Maples

Harold Miller

Forbes Murray

Monty O'Grady

Cosmo Sardo

Jeffrey Sayre

Aaron Spelling

Bert Stevens

James Stone

Arthur Tovey

Michael Vallon

Geraldine Wall

Pat White

Frank Wilcox

Wilson Wood

Nunnally Johnson

Dorothy Spencer

Hugh Wheeler

Charles G. Clarke

Leigh Harline

Roger Heman Sr.

Eugene Grossman

Ben Nye

Helen Turpin

Richard W. Webb

Lyle R. Wheeler

Dorcy Howard

Maurice Ransford

Travilla

A.F. Erickson

Walter M. Scott

Lionel Newman

Edward B. Powell

Ray Kellogg

The Black Widow, deadliest of all spiders, earned its dark title through its deplorable practice of devouring its mate.

The Black Widow, deadliest of all spiders, earned its dark title through its deplorable practice of devouring its mate.

Black Widow is written and directed by Nunally Johnson. It stars Ginger Rogers, Van Heflin, Gene Tierney, George Raft, Peggy Ann Garner and Reginald Gardiner. Music is by Leigh Harline and cinematograpgy by Charles G. Clarke.
A young writer insinuates herself into the life of a Broadway producer – with dire consequences…

A CinemaScope/De Luxe colour production out of 20th Century Fox, Black Widow flirts with the boundaries of colour film noir. Heflin is the Broadway producer who has his world turned upside by what at first we think is a femme fatale, only the pic isn’t as straight forward as that. In fact, the title is a bit of a bum steer for this is not about some male murdering femme fatale, quite the opposite in fact, so expectation of that will only cause disappointment.

Essentially this ends up as a who and why done it? And for the most part the pic holds the attention as the narrative pitches Peter Denver (Heflin) as the Broadway producer frantically trying to prove himself innocent of a murder. Cards are kept close to the chest as Johnson’s screenplay drips suspicion into the play at various points. We the audience are forced into questioning the manoeuvres of the lead protagonists, which gains momentum once Raft’s Detective Bruce starts investigating the case. However, some have cried out that the revelation was too easy to spot, maybe so if one is so desperate to do so, but of course we do hear this a lot from folk not happy with the film they have watched. Personally, I didn’t see it coming, but conversely, I was personally disappointed with the reveal. So, there you go, roll the dice and take a chance with it really. 

Tech aspects are hit and miss. The CinemaScope format doesn’t quite work here, given that most of the play is performed in apartments. When it comes to the cityscapes of New York – and the framing of characters within them – it’s a treat, especially as Clarke’s colour lenses are splendid, but Johnson the director doesn’t appear to get a handle on the format. Acting is also an interesting parade. Heflin is great, draws you into his “on the run to clear my name” malarkey with conviction, while Rogers is having a blast as the waspish lead lady with delusions of grandeur. Raft is a one note let down in a “for the money” role, and Tierney (sadly getting closer to succumbing to her mental health problems) is poorly written and Gardiner likewise. Garner (stepping in when Maggie McNamara fell ill) is fine, slinky and suspiciously delicate, but the course of the story leaves us short of more from her.

As a whole? it’s a mixed bag, but definitely it’s on the good side of good, particularly for Heflin and Rogers fans and for those of a noir persuasion. 7/10

Black Widow (1954) ORIGINAL TRAILER [HQ]

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Black Widow

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Cast

Van Heflin

Reginald Gardiner

Gene Tierney

Peggy Ann Garner

Ginger Rogers

George Raft

Virginia Leith

Otto Kruger

Cathleen Nesbitt

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