best movie i've ever seen.

As Good As It Gets

I enjoyed watching this film and would recommend other to give it a try , (as I am) but this movie, although enjoyable to watch due to the better than average acting fails to add anything new to its storyline that is all too familiar to these types of movies.

It is neither dumb nor smart enough to be fun, and spends way too much time with its boring human characters.

Isn't it funny (ha! ha! ha!) how the presence of one actress (alone) can just about (but not quite) ruin a perfectly good story for you? Well, this was the case in point that I found with The Dark Corner, which co-starred actress Lucille Ball.If Ball hadn't been given such a substantial role, then, very likely, the whole scenario of the story would've probably played out about 10x better than it did.But because Ball was in my face almost constantly (and I took a strong disliking to her almost immediately) she came pretty close to wrecking the whole shebang for me, hook, line, and sinker.I mean, here was a nicely-paced, vintage film from 1946. Set against the bustling background of downtown Manhattan, its intriguing story-line, its striking camera-work, and its competent direction all added up to a nice, little slice of 1940's Film Noir.And, then, along comes the annoying Lucile Ball as Kathleen, the irritating secretary of tough-guy, P.I., Brad Galt.Kathleen's aggravating, one-track minded determination to get the dashing, young Brad as quickly as possible to the altar bordered on the verge of being absolutely ludicrous in nature.All-in-all - Lucille Ball as Kathleen was the one major sour-note in The Dark Corner's otherwise engaging story.

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.

The Dark Corner, from 1946, was good, but, definitely, not great Film Noir. With its intriguing and nicely paced storyline, its well-defined characters, and striking camera-work, things all added up to a fairly nice, little slice of 1940's Crime/Drama.I really liked actor Mark Stevens who played the P.I., Brad Galt. Stevens put in a likable and believable performance.But, on the other hand, Lucille Ball, as Kathleen, the loyal, love-struck secretary, wearing shoulder pads to rival those of any football player's, was clearly out of her league in a serious, dramatic role.Kathleen literally throws herself at her boss, Brad Galt, who she's only been working for just a short time. Ball's role was this film's one major sour note.Kathleen's annoying, one-track minded determination to get Brad to the altar, bordered on being downright fanatic. It was enough to scare any man (in his right mind) off. It's no wonder that she had no other boyfriends. I felt really sorry for Brad at the end of the film, heading off with Kathleen to City Hall - Destination: Marriage.This film contains a really hilarious mistake that wasn't edited out - When bad-guy, Fred Foss gets up from the floor after his scuffle with Galt in the apartment, his toupee is clearly seen standing up and you can see his bald-spot before he puts on his hat.

The story started of well, peaking my interest with a quick visit of the police in the form of Lt Frank Reeves (Reed Hadley) to the office of Bradford Galt (Mark Stevens). Secrets in his past? It wasn't long before he was tailed, and we know there is something amiss. Love how a film will catch you that quick.Of course, there was a very sweet looking Lucille Ball as Galt's secretary. Screenwriters Jay Dratler and Bernard C. Schoenfeld wrote some snappy lines for her.There was a lot of action - cuckolded husbands, murders, car chases, and blind leads in an attempt to keep Galt out of jail and find the real killers.Well worth the time.