"HIGH WALL" ROBERT TAYLOR, AUDREY TOTTER, HERBERT MARSHALL MONDAY 10:00 P.M. EASTERN TCM

Oznell · ‎11-08-2014

10:00 p.m. Eastern TCM "HIgh Wall" Robert Taylor, Audrey Totter, Herbert Marshall

Whew-- can't do justice to all the good melodrama and noir on TCM today, but this one is a must-watch.

In the classic tradition of Hollywood amnesia thrillers,

former military pilot Robert Taylor is believed to have murdered his wife, found in the apartment of her boss.

Consigned to a mental institution, Taylor's shrewd psychiatrist begins to piece together a scenario, while finding her patient more and more personally interesting. (Natch, there's no maintaining of professional distance and objectivity in a juicy thriller, right?)

Medical irregularities aside, this is a compelling noir, and a nice showcase for both Taylor's and Totter's talents. Both are slightly playing against type. Taylor's good looks are an afterthought in this portrait of an anguished, determined father, and Totter leaves behind her sultry wiles to embody a smart and questing clinician.

Director Curtis Bernhardt was a gifted expat director who was responsible for many other TCM favorites-- "Conflict"; "Possessed"; "A Stolen Life". Here he mixes action and atmospherics with characteristic deftness.

By the way, there's another potentially interesting "amnesia thriller" earlier today at 3:30 p.m. Eastern, with Edmond O'Brien and Audrey Totter...

Oznell · ‎11-08-2014

There's a bit of a dearth of good clips from "High Wall", but this original trailer gives at least a flavor, once you get past the frantic titles and alarmist score...

So interesting to see the seductive Totter all toned-down in her professional suiting and upswept hair. Love the fedora look she sports when in profile with Taylor...

Taylor himself is so compelling. Women often wanted to mother him-- that's part of his great appeal. I think some directors, Bernhardt in this case, were able to tap into that close-to-the surface insecurity and intriguingly neurotic quality beneath the glossy exterior. He's ravishingly photographed in this, and all the noir-ish shadows and corridors help build the suspense... All this, and Herbert Marshall too!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4oLlU0Ry5PY