Night Editor

NIGHT EDITOR is as good as any other noir produced in the forties: it's got a solid, intelligent story; a great flawed lead character; a nasty femme fatale; beautifully fluid camera-work; and that all around, despairing, hard-boiled feel. But because it's only got B-level stars and a no-name director, it's not thought of highly. Too bad: it has all the ingredients needed for a great film. William Gargan is a cop who's having a fling with the aforementioned Femme Fatale Janis Carter -- hardly anyone is more ice-like and more cold-hearted than she -- neglecting his loving wife and son. While on a rendezvous with her, they witness a murder -- but can't come forward without wrecking his life and career. He's torn... but she just wants to have fun. The framing device of the "Night Editor" (a bunch of newspapermen at night recounting various stories) doesn't work. But otherwise, this is dark, good, fun noir. Gargan and Carter really give it their all. Loved it.