Lightning Strikes Twice

While staying at a deserted dude ranch, a woman (Roman) gets involved with a man (Todd) suspected of murder

Apparently, the movie was intended to showcase rising stars Roman, Todd, and Mc Cambridge. Trouble is they're undone by a screenplay that can't make up its mind. Is it a whodunit, a noir, a "woman in danger", or a soap opera. Actually, it's a little of all four that turns out more like an overloaded dish of stew than a tasty soufflé. Too bad because it's a waste of some fine performers like Conroy, Givney, and especially Scott.

There is one ridiculous scene almost worth the overlong 90-minutes. That's where Todd and Roman decide to have a romantic interlude perched atop a narrow cliff. Now, why a woman would choose a drop-off as a trysting spot with a suspected wife killer remains the movie's biggest mystery. In fact, the scene is almost a parody of every poorly staged soap opera on film. As an old movie fan, I wondered why I'd never heard of this film. Now I know.

A film noir buff, I recently came across this film, which has all the hallmarks of a sharply focused Warner Brothers film noir, with an excellent cast and some scenic black-and-white cinematography somewhere in the southwestern desert.

A promising start features Ruth Roman as an actress seeking a dude ranch for her health (which appears unimpaired, by the way) who stumbles into an unresolved murder mystery involving Richard Todd (who appeared gorgeous even to this straight male) as a rancher acquitted of murdering his wife after two trials, the first ending in a conviction.

Roman and Todd "meet cute" and she becomes smitten with him before learning his identity. She becomes determined to establish his innocence once and for all to quiet area residents still harboring doubt.

At this point I was wondering why this film wasn't mentioned more among noir classics but then things started getting weird.

There are various subplots involving Todd's foster parents, from whom he is estranged, Mercedes McCambridge, both the owner of the now-shuttered dude ranch and juror responsible for Todd's acquittal, and Zachary Scott as an indolent playboy who seems a bit out of place in ranching territory.

Indeed there is an air of opulence, including a swank Beverly Hills-style dinner party at a ranch, that seems out of keeping with the setting. And Todd, is remarkably well dressed and groomed even when hiding out in the wilderness.

Eventually, with the plot and setting becoming progressively less realistic and various characters going into unexplained hysterics, the film seemed less noir than fantastic melodrama. However, it does resolve the murder mystery, if only via the indiscretion of the real culprit.

There's also a background story that eventually fades from the plot about a lovable priest with a Hispanic flock that perpetuates Hollywood stereotypes of childlike Mexicans speaking broken English and taking siestas against walls.

Despite my misgivings, I enjoyed the film on its own terms and wouldn't mind watching it again some time down the road. Good cast and cinematography and fast-paced enough to distract you from the anomalies.

Another crazed logic-free over-acted melodrama in the same late Forties/early Fifties hothouse mode of Warners' Beyond The Forest, The Damned Don't Cry and This Woman Is Dangerous, this time sans the stellar fuel tank of Bette Davis or Joan Crawford. Judge this rating accordingly-- if you enjoyed aforementioned pictures, you'll get a kick out this; if not, take shelter. . .stormy weather indeed.

No need to rehash plot revealed by earlier posters, a Texas-set dramatic chile con carne liberally laced with murder, unrequited love and dark secrets set in one of those those only-in-the-movies remote desert communities where people live miles apart in remote rancheros. . .but still show up in gowns and white dinner jackets at swank poolside barbecues that would put Manhattanites to shame.

Although the smoldering-yet-vanilla Richard Todd, underused Ruth Roman and Zachery Scott(in a "hey-it's-a-paycheck" role that comes out of nowhere and getsthere fast) are ostensible stars, show is stolen by cactus-chomping Mercedes McCambridge in (apparently unintentional) schizophrenic role as a butch desert denizen (think of her role in Johnny Guitar, only less feminine) who not only has inexplicable crush on charmless Todd after he has allegedly killed his wife. . .but is nevertheless selected to serve on jury during his murder trial to boot! Things go off-cliff (as does at least one vehicle) from there.

Whatever film lacks in reality, it more than makes up for in implausibility and psychological chaos that would baffle Freud. But rest assured, everyone gets their just deserts(sic). If you're in right frame of mind, a yucca minute.

Fun overheated histrionics in the desert with two of the more under-appreciated actresses of the 50's.

Ruth Roman is a big city actress looking for a bit of rest in the wilderness and finding little. Right from the get go things in this docile community seem a bit off even though the residents appear friendly. Next thing you know she's neck deep in contretemps with suspected murderers and intrigue! It's all pitched to the higher notes of melodrama but kept grounded by the competence of the cast and no nonsense direction.

The movie is a routine Warners programmer but given some snap by the quality performances of Ruth Roman, subtle and dignified, and Mercedes McCambridge, controlled for most of the film but she gets her chance to do some florid emoting later in the picture.

Professionally done this is enjoyable in an over the top way especially for fans of either actress.

Definitely worth a look. Immediately following his "Beyond the Forest" and "The Fountainhead" (also Warners), this Vidor film is somewhat less feverish and over-the-top than those two, and accordingly does not pack the same punch, but still has a nice erotic frisson. It's a whodunit with romance--including a rainstorm when the two leads meet in an isolated house. Ruth Roman is lovingly photographed and underscored by luscious Steiner music in this threatened-bride tale. Mercedes McCambridge does some of the same kind of scenery chewing that Davis did in "Forest," while Zachary Scott reprises his charming scoundrel from many Warner's films.