In a Lonely Place
d. Nicholas Ray, 1950
One of the greatest of all film-noirs, Nicholas Ray's In a Lonely Place is a very special film. It features Humphrey Bogart in easily his greatest role (yes, better than Casablanca) it's also perhaps Ray's greatest film along with Johnny Guitar. In a Lonely Place is the story of a tough screenwriter named Dix Steele (Bogart) who at the beginning of the film takes a waitress home to read a book he has to adapt for him. She leaves his house and is found dead the next day. Being the last known person to see her alive, they call him into the police station. They also call in his neighbor Laurel Gray (Gloria Grahame), who says he saw her say goodbye to the waitress and get right into his bed. It is obvious that she is partly lying, but she trusts Dix entirely and eventually they begin seeing in each other, despite the suspicion of the police officers. Throughout the whole movie more and more about Dix's violent side is revealed; he beats up a young man who comments on his driving, he almost chokes Laurel, and suddenly the trust between them is so strong. By the end of the film, in which everything is resolved, Ray gives us a final, infinitely sad, shot of the Bogart walking away. Yes, everything is resolved. But for Laurel and Dix it is much too late.
