Touches You

Good , But It Is Overrated By Some

While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.

Blistering performances.

Actually - I think that a more appropriate title for this dizzy, 1957, crime-clunker would have been "Crime of Stupidity" - 'Cause, believe me, that's exactly what this idiotic film's storyline amounted to being - pure stupidity (as only Hollywood could possibly deliver it).You know - I can't imagine how anyone in the cast of this utterly implausible movie-nonsense could've ever kept a straight face, spewing out the totally awful dialogue that they did, and behaving like absolute brain-dead buffoons throughout.Personally, I think that that big, dull oaf, Sterling Hayden was one of the most insincere and unconvincing character actors of his generation, bar none.And, finally - Speaking about actress, Barbara Stanwyck - (At 50 years old here) - She was, in my opinion, absolute light years away from being believable, at all, as the irresistibly alluring business woman. She really was.

Feisty newspaper columnist Kathy falls for LA cop Doyle and marries him. Trouble is she bridles at dull suburban life and his complaisant attitude. Thus she begins scheming to raise his place in the detective bureau, leading to unforeseen consequences.As a crime drama the movie never really gels. There's no tension, while the only suspense comes at the end. As a vehicle for aging diva Stanwyck, she's a bit over-age for the irresistible wife and other-woman parts. The romantic scenes try hard but are none too persuasive.Where the movie succeeds is in its iconoclastic view of 1950's middle-class conformity. At a time when movies and TV were saturated with images of suburban bliss, a sub-plot here dares suggesting gender role-playing in the suburbs can be emptying. The housewives silly conversations (everything's "wonderful") are spread on pretty thick, still we get the idea. At this point, it becomes a stretch to see the dynamic Kathy (Stanwyck) stay with a boring marriage since we know she has a real independent streak.Fortunately, director Oswald manages the erratic material in smooth fashion. He's definitely an underrated helmsman from that period, as his half-masterpiece A Kiss Before Dying (1956) demonstrates. Catch some of his good touches such as the lit candle fadeout punctuating Kathy and Doyle's kindled attraction. Hayden too, is coming off an iconic role as the gang leader in Kubrick's breakthrough caper film The Killing (1956). As a cop here, the towering Hayden's excellent, but as Stanwyck's devoted husband and lover, he strikes me as miscast.Overall, the film's too erratic to register as anything more than a time-passer. But it is good to note that Stanwyck soon adjusted to more appropriate matriarchal roles than that of a middle-age temptress.

Interesting crime drama directed by Gerd Oswald. Kathy Ferguson(Barbara Stanwyck)is a newspaper columnist unhappy with her job. She has brains and talent...and very easy on the eyes. She is blindsided by love. "Fergie" falls in love with Los Angeles Police Lt. Bill Doyle(Sterling Hayden). She is determined and self assured, while her new husband seems to lack ambition. Kathy does her best to help Bill climb the ladder in rank; she even satisfies Police Inspector Tony Pope(Raymond Burr)in the process. No longer an ace columnist, but an unhappy suburban housewife, Mrs. Doyle blames Bill's job for her loneliness. And when Pope refuses to keep his promise to promote Bill, Kathy becomes a desperate woman scorned. When Pope is found dead with one shot to the head, who do you think is a prime suspect? This movie was filmed entirely at RKO-Pathe Studios in Culver City, California. CRIME of PASSION proves what drives an intelligent, and otherwise, normal person to commit murder. Supporting cast includes: Royal Dano, Fay Wray, Robert Griffin and Virginia Grey.

Crime of Passion (1957)** (out of 4) Sussessful woman Kathy Ferguson (Barbara Stanwyck) gives up her career when she falls for a police officer (Sterling Hayden). The two are eventually married but the wife grows tired of her husband not working harder to accomplish more so she decides to strike up a relationship with his superior (Raymond Burr) in hopes to help the husband's career but everything backfires. CRIME OF PASSION struck me as a rather far-fetched and over-dramatic story that never really grabbed my attention. There's no question that the entire cast is in fine form but at the same time I just couldn't get caught up in their story simply because I found it to be rather silly and at times poorly handled. I think one of the biggest issues for me was the Stanwyck character and the various things she does throughout the picture. I mean, it seems like this hard-working woman wouldn't have thrown her job away to begin with and it seems like she would have realized that this man wasn't going to be her match. The entire plot with the Burr character is just so far-fetched that I had a hard time believing such a smart woman would sink this low and be fooled so badly. Stanwyck is certainly believable in the part but then again she's always strong in these type of roles. Hayden was also very believable in his part and it was nice seeing Fay Wray in her supporting bit. The standout is clearly Burr who seems to be having a great time playing this low-life character.