Night Has a Thousand Eyes

A noite tem mil olhos estreava há 75 anos em Londres. Plot bem peculiar para um noir, se não fosse baseado em Cornell Woolrich seria bem relutante em chamá-lo de noir por sua veia paranormal. Aliás, nem sei como esse filme não me caiu em mãos quando nos anos 2000 fiz um binge de adaptações do Woolrich. Box Versátil Filme Noir Volume 20.

Edward G. Robinson as a psychic that gets psychic. A more mysterious twist to a thriller, though, I wouldn't have minded a more focused direction to this story. For John Farrow, while a competent director, could often be too conventional in his film making, and this was a story that would fit some darker touches to really make it memorable. Still with Robinson, the lovely Gail Russell, and it's share of veteran actors, it becomes a fine experience.

The supernatural overtones to the plot could easily be too silly to care about, but the film sells it all well enough that it's a fun ride to take. Robinson is very good in the lead and the peripheral actors do their part, but this one is carried by the mystery of the plot and the good use of noir visuals that help keep the dangerous looming presence feel real and immediate. Not quite great but a good fun noir.

My fourth noir from John Farrow, and again it's not one of my favorites. But it's not bad. I don't like the supernatural getting into my noir, but the way this film toys with the idea of the unreliable narrator is intriguing. Robinson is great as always, and Demarest is a hoot. However, Russell and Lund are bland. I also felt like the film could have created more of a moody atmosphere. At times it comes close, but mostly it's rather flat. Still, it's an engaging tale with a few nice touches.