Let's be realistic.

If you don't like this, we can't be friends.

I don't have all the words right now but this film is a work of art.

As Good As It Gets

This is the kind of thing that Hollywood hasn't made in decades - a solid, well written, well acted, well directed "B" Movie. With a running time just seconds under an hour there is no wasted time in this movie, and yet nothing feels rushed, either. The main plot is revealed very quickly, and a lengthy set up is not the least bit missed. By going straight into the main story about 10 or 15 minutes of character introductions and set up for the plot are avoided. We get to know the characters right away, and we find out what the story is all about in the first 5 minutes. And what a creative story, too! Legendary director Anthony Mann had a hand in writing the story, and his flair for Noir shines through (or, maybe I should say his shadows fall on the story).William Lundigan is well cast as the lead (a detective still trying to break a months old serial murder case), and Dorothy Patrick does an equally good job as a tabloid reporter trying to get a scoop. Jeff Corey is particularly good, too, as Lundigan's detective partner.Bottom line? Follow Me Quietly is a very good, well made thriller on the outskirts of Film Noir that feels just right in it's one hour running time. It's not rushed, but absolutely nothing drags, either. And there aren't any unresolved plot points, either. It's a shame that Hollywood doesn't make movies like this anymore (low budget, short run time, taut, well made thrillers). But I guess that kind of thing went to TV in series form. (But a 44 minute TV episode doesn't quite do as good a job of telling this kind of story as a 60 or 70 minute movie could.)

It's always a treat to find a good picture where you least expect to. "Follow Me Quietly" is a taut, suspenseful B picture which is almost good enough to be an A. Good cast of Almosts and Never Was's, headed by William Lundigan who was better than his usual bland self. Hadn't seen Dorothy Patrick before but she came off well. And not to mention the dependable Jeff Corey in one of his innumerable very competent support roles.Production values were better than average for this type of picture, as was the plot line. It was more of a Whodunnit than a Cat-and-Mouse scenario, as the murderer was unknown to us until the end of the picture. Personally I like the Whodunnits more, but this was a previously unseen character. Hats off to Turner Classic Movies for dusting off some good forgotten oldies.

Exactly what I was looking for on a sleet-filled Sunday night—a 60-minute crimer that is as ludicrously entertaining as it is nonsensical. A serial killer calling himself "The Judge" strikes on rainy nights, strangling his victims and leaving behind stenciled notes with warnings like, "I have been ordained to destroy all evil!" That one was left behind on an editor's desk, after the killer pitched the newspaperman through a second-story window (notable for the victim narrating the struggle in flashback). The cops are given hilarious dialogue that never fails to provoke a giggle. In one scene, the tough detective covering the case runs down the list of evidence. Regarding the killer's personality, he offers, "And we know how he thinks—he likes passing judgment on people." His wisecracking partner actually gets off a few humorous quips. The detectives get the inspired idea to create a faceless dummy to supplement their "routine bulletin information," which adds absolutely nothing to that knowledge but an odd, faceless, 3-dimensional model to complement their faceless, 2-dimensional sketches. And what a rough customer the protagonist is! He's absolutely ruthless to a (beautiful blonde) reporter, heaping insults at her ("that rag of a newspaper belongs in the river!") and basically scolding her for being an information whore. Somehow she falls for him. As written by Lillie Hayward and Anthony Mann, the film has a surprising streak of ill will towards print media; through Lundigan, they effectively state that newspaper coverage will inspire a breed of copycat killers. And did Anthony Mann step in to direct that incredible finale in a chemical plant? I wonder. It features his fascination for geometric angles and outstretched hands to the face and such. I never tire of movies like this. An unpretentious good time courtesy of the old RKO studio and solid worker-bee Richard Fleischer.

The two movies I mention in my title were proofs positive that ,all that Fleischer threatened to do in the film noir field all the promises were fulfilled ."Follow me quietly" can be looked upon as a blueprint for these masterful works.Its only flaw is its length: it's obviously too short,and we would like to know more about the Judge.This serial killer apparently "punishes": like in Agatha Christie's famous "And then there were none"(1939) ,a subject which was also that of the celebrated "Seven" .All the scenes which feature the dummy are extraordinary ,and Fleischer shows his brilliance when it comes to make us feel he is "alive".Outside these three works,do not miss early efforts such as "the clay pigeon" (with a shoestring budget too) "the narrow margin" or later works such as "blind terror" and "Solyent green " (a sci fi classic with film noir accents);only Fleischer's final movies were mediocre ,the likes of "Amytiville" "Conan" and "Ashanti" which perhaps went against him and tarnished his image.Which was unfair.