Stylish but barely mediocre overall

Pretty Good

Gripping story with well-crafted characters

It is a whirlwind of delight --- attractive actors, stunning couture, spectacular sets and outrageous parties.

Thought that was Lucille. Thoroughly enjoyable movie. Kept my interest. Acting was superb. Plot line was interesting. Movies today depend on shock value or computer graphics but this was very well done. I had always seen Lucille Ball as a comedienne in conjunction with Desi Arnaz but she did great in this dramatic role. Too bad it was only in black and white but that was hardly a distraction. I've not found many movies, old or new, that were this captivating. I've always held Lucille in high regard but this just added to my appreciation of her skills as an actress. I highly recommend this story to movie lovers. Clean language, good family entertainment.

This film would be, at best, an average film noir, given the hackneyed script, and the ending which is broadcast from a mile away. However, in spite of the excellent efforts of Clifton Webb, Mark Stevens, and William Bendix to uphold the weak script, their efforts are quite in vain, sabotaged by the superfluous character played by Lucille Ball, and more so, by Ms. Ball's atrocious acting.As the curtain fell on this movie, I couldn't help but wonder just what the purpose was of Ball's character. She was introduced as detective Brad Galt's secretary of just a few weeks, yet, we are to believe the suddenly fabricated romance between the two. Every action that detective Galt takes in the movie could easily have occurred without Ball's character's presence. Add to that the fact that Ball's acting was totally unconvincing, and one can only be left wondering, "Why did Lucille Ball get top billing?" The result is a movie about which I found myself shaking my head, only 15 minutes in. It's an okay time-passer, but not good for much else.As for Fox's DVD of the movie, it proved to be relatively clean for a movie of this age and stature. No complaints there. However, there are so many much better film noirs out there to add to your library. I would pass on this one.

Few actors can sweat with creepy menace as much as William Bendix, the sleazy thug hired by an enemy of lead detective, Bradford Galt, played by Mark Stevens a perfect week-kneed noir hero at the mercy of his past. Add effete Clifton Webb, an art dealer with plenty of attitude and his svelte young wife who has other ideas than being good to her husband--and there's also pre-Lucy Lucille Ball, odd as a supportive secretary--but because of fast-paced, well-modulated direction and especially a cinematographer who could capture the shadowy streets and shuttered, barren offices at night, The Dark Corner, where our nervous hero huddles after numerous brushes with those who would do him ill, is a nice little noir thriller

After serving time for involuntary manslaughter, private investigator Mark Stevens (as Bradford "Brad" Galt) relocates from California to New York, and sets up shop. Attracted to new secretary Lucille Ball (as Kathleen Stuart), Mr. Stevens takes her out for dinner and dancing. During their date, Stevens and Ms. Ball are followed by a white-suited William Bendix (as Stauffer). Stevens thinks Mr. Bendix may have been sent by former business partner Kurt Kreuger (as Anthony "Tony" Jardine), who is having an affair with Cathy Downs (as Mari), the beautiful wife of wealthy art dealer Clifton Webb (as Hardy Cathcart).Director Henry Hathaway and 20th Century Fox get far more than they bargained for with this unheralded crime drama. Though he is billed fourth, Stevens does well in the lead. "There goes my last lead," he says, "I feel all dead inside. I'm backed up in a dark corner, and I don't know who's hitting me." Ball is startlingly good, in an atypical role. Conversely, Mr. Webb and Mr. Bendix succeed by reprising familiar characterizations (in "Laura" and "The Glass Key"). Joe MacDonald's black-and-white cinematography is the film's most obvious strength. And, you get a moderate dose of queenly Constance Collier (as Mrs. Kingsley).******* The Dark Corner (4/9/46) Henry Hathaway ~ Mark Stevens, Lucille Ball, Clifton Webb, William Bendix