Fresh and Exciting

best movie i've ever seen.

If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.

The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.

This film does not fall short by any means. The Company She Keeps is a story of a young woman's plight named Diane Stuart (played by Jane Greer) that lands her behind bars on more than one occasion and when the opportunity for parole arises she has developed such a defeatist attitude that she feels she is fighting everyone in the (in)justice system. If Diane did not have bad luck she would have no luck at all. Once out of prison she visits with her parole officer Joan Willburn (played by Lizabeth Scott) and by accident or intention Diane finds the man of her dreams a newspaper columnist named Larry Collins (played by Dennis O'Keefe).The three main characters in this film, Diane Stuart (ex-con), Joan Wilburn (parole officer), and Larry Collins (newspaper columnist) form the love triangle that has deception written all over this screen play. Lies, lies, lies, or is it just that each person is reluctant to hurt the others feelings? As the film progresses we the audience realize that even female paroled prisoners are still considered ex-cons and their life is subjected to hell, especially in the year 1951 which is when this film was released. Truth be told, the rights and freedoms of ex- cons has not progressed much over the past 70 odd years.Inevitably Diane finds herself in a police line-up once again for nothing at all and she realizes her life is crap and any chance of true love, life and freedom was nothing more than a pipe dream. I won't spoil the film for anyone, but I will say that the director John Cromwell provided the audience with a surprise ending that should make most of his audience leaving the movie theater with a lot to talk about. The performances of Lizabeth Scott, Jane Greer, and Dennis O'Keefe were top notch. After close to 70 years since the films release I felt the film still contains a lot of human interest as it relates to crime and punishment.I give the film 4**** of 5*****.

This would make a great follow-up to 1950's "Caged", the Warner Brothers women's prison drama that starred Eleanor Parker as the innocent young girl turned hard by the penal system. In that film, Parker is paroled and it is implied that she'll be back. But what happens to Jane Greer here as the troubled tough girl who can't seem to face the truth about herself and blames everybody else is somewhat forced and unbelievable. Sultry voiced Lizabeth Scott is the outrageously nice parole officer assigned to Greer's case, and from the moment she comes on, I found her to be one dimensionally nice. There's nothing realistic about this character. She's far too perfect, even when she's crying about realizing that Greer has successfully stolen the love from her man (a bland Dennis O'Keefe). Scott, who had made a career out of playing sexy tough girls, might have found the change of pace refreshing, but the way Greer treats her (even when Scott is being totally supportive) would cause even Julie Andrews to pull out a few strands of her hair. I doubt that the parole system of the early 50's was as nice as it is presented here. RKO had made some tough talking films on changes in society after World War II, but this one is not among them.

I fell for Lizabeth Scott in Too Late for Tears, and she's delicious here as a tortured altruist. But it's Jane Greer as the broken dove who has a the limelight for the first two acts. The shades of gray--and green--make this a juicy little melodrama for both characters. Indeed, the lesbian tension is palpable in the beginning (and I didn't know about Scott's reputation), suggesting much more than the film makers may have intended (but, oh, what a movie this COULD have been...). Dennis O'Keefe is the weak link, looking older than his 43 years and strolling thru scenes without adding much flavor. Fay Baker is a nice addition as the tough girl that Greer might have been without the help she gets.

Diane Stewart has had a lot of obstacles to get over in her life. She started on the wrong side of the law early in life, something that lands her in jail. As her case is reviewed, she is granted a parole status and she must be monitored during this important period of her rehabilitation. Diane ends up working in a hospital where another woman, Tillie, also a parolee is also sent. While Diane rebels, at first, she undergoes a change of heart, while Tillie, a hardened petty criminal goes back to his old tricks.The kind Joan Wilburn, a parole officer, is in charge of Diane's case. As soon as Diane is out, she sets her eyes on the hunky Larry Collins, who happens to be Joan's boyfriend. It's clear the feeling is mutual. What can Joan do, fight for her man, or give up her relationship with Larry? That decision makes Joan a better person and Diane finally understands her mentor's sacrifice.John Cromwell directed with his usual style. By going against typecasting, he achieves some interesting acting from his two leading ladies. Lizabeth Scott, who usually played tough women, is seen as Joan Wilburn, a nice person who understands Diane Stewart's tragic life. Jane Greer, on the other hand, starts as a rough girl until she falls in love for Joan's man. Dennis O'Keefe is Larry, the man between these two different women. Fay Baker and John Hoyt, have some good moments in the film.Although seldom seen these days, "The Company She Keeps" shows some interesting locations in Los Angeles that have a nostalgic look as seen by the lens of Nicholas Musuraca, one of the best camera men working in Hollywood of that era.