The seething misogyny hovering around Orson Welles' confused, ominous noir simply begs you to read the film as a visualisation of his malfunctioning marriage to co-star Rita Hayworth. Chomping on his accent, Welles' Irish drifter finds himself ensnared in a mesh of lust, murder and betrayal by Mrs Bannister (Hayworth, whose famous red locks are hacked off and dyed blonde), the seductive wife of a crippled lawyer. Jumbled by its director's indulgence and the studio's butchers, the film's murky plot eventually gives way to some fascinating visual set-pieces: the kissing scene set in an aquarium and the climactic hall-of-mirrors shoot-out... They're up there with the darkest imaginings of Welles' genius.
Technology
Entertainment
Music
Creative
Sport & Auto
- About Future
- Jobs
- PR
- Advertising
- Digital Future
- Privacy Policy
- Cookies Policy
- Terms & Conditions
- Subscriptions
- Investor Relations
- Contact Future
© Future Publishing Limited, Beauford Court, 30 Monmouth Street, Bath BA1 2BW. All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number 2008885.