Allied Artists Studios was Formed by some of Hollywood's Independent Thinking "Stars".
It was a Reconditioned "Monogram" that had its Place for some Fine Actors to Work Outside the Studio System.
Although Envisioned as an Alternative to Big-Buck, Highly Controlled Studio Work,
the Major Problem was that Transforming a Poverty-Row Studio into a Look-as-Good as the Majors Film Proved to be a Task Insurmountable.
It's Extremely Evident in "The Come On" where there isn't a Scene that looks Stylish, or for that Matter Believable.
Of Course the Outdoor Stuff doesn't Suffer as Much because it Brings its Own "Natural" Ambience.
But Here all the Indoor Scenes Look Tacky, Droll, Lifeless and Void, even though Fronted by some Top-Talented Thespians.
Anne Baxter, is known as one of the Consummate-Professionals, Hard Working, Oscar Winning, and Sexy.
A Privileged Private Upbringing didn't Prepare Her for the Troubling Ups and Downs in Her Private as Well as Professional Life.
Always, Giving Her All, Willing to Work in Prestigious Productions...Nefertiti in "The 10 Commandments" (1956), the same Year as this Bargain-Basement Film-Noir.
She can be Spotted Here, still with some Sexual-Charm (at 32).
Delivering Her Lines and Acting Like this could be an Oscar Contender. She Drives the Picture, almost Single-Handedly.
But Gets Stalwart Support from He-Man Sterling Hayden, very at Home in His Home Away from Home, On-a-Boat.
His Regular-Good-Guy Character is Opposed by John Hoyt, a Serpentine, Domineering Partner-in-Crime with Baxter, and He is a Great Love to Hate Villain.
Character Actor Jesse White is a Sleazy Private-Eye, Uncouth and Uncool, and makes His Presence Count along with the 3 Other Leads.
The Script is a Complicated Contrivance that Fuels Film-Noir Regularly, with Murder, Blackmail, Passion, and Greed.
The Down-Side is the Aforementioned Bland Look of the Thing that Puts the Burden of Making the Sleazy B-Grade Entertainment Entertaining.
They do a Fine Job in this 2nd Tier, Late-Noir, and that Makes it...
Worth a Watch.
