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Ginger Rogers is in a "Tight Spot" in this 1955 film directed by Phil Karlsen and also starring Edward G. Robinson, Brian Keith and Lorne Greene. Rogers plays Sherry Conley, in prison for harboring a fugitive. When the big witness against a mobster (Greene) is killed, she's asked to be a witness against him so that he can be deported. She realizes the danger, but stalls in making her decision because she's in a hotel and can order room service and take private showers. Also, one of her guards, Vince (Keith) is attractive and there appears to be a chemistry there. After a couple of murder attempts, she wants to go back to prison.
"Tight Spot" isn't exactly an "A" movie; it's more like a B - it's filmed in black and white and fits into the noir genre. However, it's based on a play, and it's obvious - the scenes aren't opened up at all, and there's a ton of dialogue. It doesn't appear that Karlsen directed either Rogers or Eve McVeagh very well. Both actresses approach their roles as if they're doing them for stage; the effect is over the top.
Ginger Rogers was a wonderful actress and a very versatile one. Like all female film stars, the roles became a little less interesting after she turned 30 and all but disappeared when she turned 40. She's 44 here, playing someone younger, and she is very effective if a little overdone in parts. Robinson is great as usual, and a young Keith gives a relaxed performance. Greene was cast as a villain often until he played Pa Cartwright. At the age of 45 when the show started, he was 13 years older than Adam Cartwright (Pernell Roberts). After that, he played fathers, and producers didn't care whose father -Ava Gardner's, for instance, in Earthquake. He was seven years older than Ava. He does a good job here in a fairly one-dimensional role.
All in all, okay.
score 7/10
blanche-2 17 July 2008
Reprint: https://www.imdb.com/review/rw1912171/ |
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23-2-2021 18:10:07