Because Empty Fame Is Evil. That's Why.

So, earlier this year, everyone was left SHOOKETH when BigHit announced a SECOND JIMIN ALBUM!!!

Granted, some of us did expect some type of announcement to drop given that there had been a part of the Minimoni conversations (which I talked abt here.) Although it WAS possible that Jimin would dig into FACE (his first solo album), it made just as much sense to think that he would eventually drop new music, IJS.

AND NEW MUSIC IT WAS!!! At times quirky, but always sweet, MUSE is deffo the flipside of his first album. It's also a kind of evolution as Jimin stretched out his skills to see what else he had to express via song.

Back in July, this dropped

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This time, RM is having a convo with Jimin all abt MUSE and it's such a joyful watch, NGL! For starters, the tone is a little lighter than when the focus was on RM. Additionally, it was super great to see the back-and-forth between Jimin deconstructing his album and been addressed as a creative individual by RM. Like, yes, Jimin IS adorable, impish, a flirt, and v., v. sassy BUT that's not all there is to him. I've watched both episodes back to back and basically ヽ(✿ﾟ▽ﾟ)ノ to my heart's content.


"Who" was the lead single of the album. AFAIK, it's STILL tracking on the Hot 100 nearly 23 weeks after it first dropped. An all-English song, this is Jimin as an IT POP BOY. This is also one of the few songs that I've enjoyed every remix (the best ones, IMO, are the acoustic and Rock versions)

Trigger warnings: Lots of flashing effects and fast edits. Also the camera moves around a ton.

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H/T to Bookish Theories for breaking down the song and MV

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After months of an intense hate train, Le Sserafim returned with one of THE songs of 2024: "Crazy" (the title track of a mini-album of the same name). In many ways, this is the sequel (musically, at least) of last year's "Eve, Psyche & Bluebeard's Wife". Only this time QUEERER AND BOPPIER..

Trigger warning: lots of visual special effects including distortions, animation, etc. The camera moves around A LOT.

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The fact that LSF brought members of the House of Juicy Couture and even released a Vogue Remix featuring Deshawn Wesley (a v., v. important figure in ballroom culture) was amazing. This embrace of and respect for the ballroom scene (specifically with how it NEEDS to be centered around Black and brown QUEER AF cultures) was rightfully lauded by many. The song (with its EDM-house beat) is one of the best kind of earworms ever.

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I'm forever grateful that BookishTheories deconstructs the themes in the MV and makes us appreciate it even more.


Here are two versions of the dance practice:

Moving

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Fixed

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BTW, it won't embed properly BUT I must point out that, one of the first things Jin did after returning to civilian life was be among the first wave of idols doing the "Crazy" dance challenge with LSF!. Which is AWESOMECAKES to begin with. Even AWESOMER is the fact that Jin rarely (if ever) does dance challenges, so this is BIG. FUCKING. DEAL.


Trigger warnings: General K-pop show camerawork that includes tilting, zooming in/zooming out, etc. Stage pyrotechnics. Lots of flashing lights. Also, the crowd is doing the fanchant v. loudly.

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Once again, here's Gravity Jacobs (of the House of Marc Jacobs) giving some commentary abt the MV. Good stuff!

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My last of the YT channel recs for this year is Kaz Rowe's. They're a cartoonist by trade but also a historical researcher. Their channel has (to date) 74 video essays abt a variety of historical, art, and pop culture topics that are, almost always, filtered thru and LGBTQ+ lens.

Their approach to history is one from a feminist AND inclusive perspective. Off the top of my head, the only two of their video essays I was disappointed with were the one on Caravaggio (I was a bit bored/never got into it) and the one on Pre-Code movies (IMO, they focused too much on the political aspect--which has been well-presented EVERYWHERE--to explain where Pre-Code movies came from) and nowhere near enough time on themes (ESPECIALLY THE QUEER ONES) that are abundant in those movies, IJS.

Here's a good sampler of what their video essays I like. They have a friendly personality and, every so often, their cat will pop up and meow at the camera.

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This was the first video essay of theirs I watched. I'd been looking for some good costume breakdowns after watching the movie for the millionth time.

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Some of the media mentioned in this video is stuff I'd never heard of before so, for that, it gets a rec from me!

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Extremely in-depth look at an artist's private life (he and his male partner were a couple for most of Leyendecker's life).

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And, finally, here's a video essay that I deeply entertained by. It's basically "rich ppl's problems" involving the Vanderbilts (back when they were considered noveau riche), a costume ball, and some old timey gossip. There's even a section where Kaz Rowe ranks some of the costumes (based on sepia-toned photographs that were taken the night of the event.)

ItsDivya is a YouTuber with a diploma on art and design whose channel is a happily chaotic mix of book/movie reviews and graphic design-related videos.

Last year, she did a 3-part series on controversial book covers that is a complete riot. I've watched these videos a few times and I still LMAO.

Part 1

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Part 2

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Part 3

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FWIW, IHNI how I stumbled upon Modern Gurlz over on YouTube, but I'm deffo glad I did! They mostly focus on fashion via a pop culture lens. Occasionally, there will be movie reviews of blockbusters (such as Wicked) and ranking of more obscure stuff (Best Scooby Doo Velma, Best Morticia Addams, etc). Other playlists include Disney thru a critical angle (from light-hearted stuff like "ranking of direct-to-video sequels to more introspective stuff such as the gradual shift toward more assertive heroines in Disney films.)

It's one of the channels I usually watch whatever they upload even if it's stuff IHNI what it is abt because I appreciate the approach and how it always starts from a feminist and inclusive point of view.

Here are four of my fave video essays that I think will show a bit of what this channel has to offer. Please note that there will be FULL SPOILERS for all of the movies mentioned.

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A true original in terms of costuming. Brilliant video essay.

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This movie dropped at the perfect time. I was charmed by the fact that a few of Nancy's pieces were things I already owned back then. XD

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NGL, I've always been more of a Clueless girlie over a Mean Girls one (though the channel also has a fashion analysis of that movie AND the musical sequel). This is one of the videos I've watched at least 2 (if not 3) times cuz it's so fun.

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Yes and also YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!

As of today (or abt 13-ish hours ago in KST), Jin's been a Good Chaotic KING for THIRTY-TWO YEARS (omg, he's OOOOOLD AF!*). Hence this post.

* I'm joking OFC. 32 isn't OLD at all. XD

A whole year and a half ago I posted abt the wonderfulness that is "Super Tuna". And, a little under two months ago, I did a post abt the 2024 extended version.

Since then, Jin's been B-U-S-Y. Not only is he still promoting Happy, his first solo album, but he's been a guest in a handful of shows. Such as Lee Mujin's Taxi Service. Behold 36 minutes and change of World Wide Handsome stunning Lee Mujin, heheh:

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The album's pre-release was a v. pop-rock tune called "I'll Be There". This is a sub-genre where Jin's vocals ride in an amazing way. Especially when he sings live; there's some extra sparkage in how he performs even the cheesiest songs with a v. fun type of confidence. You can't help but be swayed by his EVERYTHING:

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A little under a month ago (give or take a few days), Jin did a 2-day fanmeet/showcase thing with a live bande. It was also available for streaming for FREE NINETY-NINE (everyone's favorite price). In between songs, he played games with the audience. One of said things was to help him decide which is his best potential costume. The MOST RIDIC COSTUME WON...and he did an encore performance of "Running Wild" (the title track of his album) while wearing it.

Mild trigger warning for: lots of fan screaming and flashing lights.

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I love him soooooooooooooooo much! <<3____;


SO, out of the six songs in the album, there's a clear breakthrough hit. A song that charms ppl into listening to it as many times as possible. I'm talking, of course, of the synthpop MASTERPIECE that is "Heart on the Window".

Not only does this song has one of the most FLAWLESS melodies and beats in any song ever, but it's also Jin's first duet with a female singer. None other but Red Velvet's Wendy.

And this is where I gotta pause for a second.

Cuz this is a TRUE SURPRISE in every sense of the word. Like I mentioned, it's a duet (he's done at least one with V once way back), but it's the UNEXPECTED TWIST of the other singer being WENDY? THE Wendy?! This in turn added a whole 'nother layer of WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA? Because SM Entertainment (Wendy's agency) is INFAMOUS for pretty much blocking any and every attempt to have her work with anyone that SME doesn't think "worthy."

This collabo happened pretty much by kismet. One day between late June and early July of this year, Jin was having a meal with a friend. They were talking abt Jin's upcoming album and the convo turned into how Jin should sing a song with Wendy. The friend happened to have Wendy's actual cellphone number, so they called her right then and there. Jin got on the phone and, after a bit of lulz, straight up asked her if she was interested in recording a song with him. She accepted and then this song happened.

Had Jin called SME's Division 3 (the team that's in charge of Red Velvet), he'd have gotten a flat out no. This isn't as much hearsay/goss-goss. SM Entertainment almost always drag their feet when it comes to promoting Red Velvet either as a group or individually. In the case of this song (which nearly any other company would've been super vocal abt), SME did the least effort possible in promoting the "Heart on the Window" performance of a song that's 100% beloved by anyone who listens to it. The ONLY thing they've done was post a pic of this performance on Insta. That's it. AFAIK, to be a fan of an SME artist means accepting that the company will do a poor job with everything (except the album packaging? #Unsure).

One super positive thing was seeing ARMYs and Reveluvs (Red Velvet fandom) teaming up to promote the song. Like, yeah, Kpop fandoms can be messy (all of them. Yes, even the ones that appear to be chill from the outside), so it's always v. heartwarming to see fandoms cheering each other on. NGL, I got v. 😀 abt all of the YAYS going back and forth across fandoms.

Anyways, all this to say that ppl were PERCHED AND R-E-A-D-Y for Jin and Wendy singing the fabulousness that is "Heart on the Window'. When I tell you I was ON THE FLOOR, TRYING TO KEEP MYSELF FROM CRYING MY EYES OUT CUZ THIS PERFORMANCE WAS EVERYTHING AND THEN SOME? XD.

Watch on YouTube

FWIW, the synthypop aspect is v. diluted in this performance, with the sound taking a lite-rock sound that fits well. I heartily suggest listening to the original version of the song.

Kudos to the musicians in Team SUGA for performing with Jin too. ;___;

Happy Birthday, Kim Seokjin! You continue to be W.W.H. even as an Official Old (TM), hehehe.

Kiss of Death (YouTube)

A 1947 20th Century Fox movie abt Nick (Victor Mature), a low-level thug, who gets arrest on Christmas Eve after participating in a jewelry heist at a fancy building. He's brought up to the Assistant DA and gets an offer of a deal IF he snitches abt the robbery, who was involved, etc.

The Assistant DA mentions the judge that Nick will be facing is v. tough and he'll probably end up with a harsh sentence. However, Nick, who is married and has two little girls, declines the offer. He's cocky abt it too; he'll do the time cuz his lawyer has assured him that he'll get parole v. quickly. So, three years have passed and Nick begins to worry abt his wife and children (whom, the lawyer had assured him, would be taken care of.) It turns out his wife is dead and his children have been sent to an orphanage.

Then, a young woman named Nettie (Coleen Gray) visits him to give him all of the info. Nettie used to babysit Nick's children up until a few weeks before his wife died. Now distressed by everything that's happened, Nick decides to reach out to the Assistant DA for the deal (that'd include him becoming a stool pigeon)...

This is a v., v. noir movie in the sense that main character as well as a lot of the folks around him are part of the criminal underground, it has tons of examples as to how the evil within that world corrupts everything, and there's is the idea of Fate vs. the individual. It's also a fairly realistic movie? Frex, the reason why Nick had been part of the initial jewelry is cuz he'd been turned down while looking for a job because he had some prior (minor) convictions. So the movie does include a tiny social commentary as to what post-incarcertation life is like for ppl. (With the caveat that, even though is situation is quite crummy, it''s less shitty than, say, a Black man with a similar record. IJS)

I liked everyone's casting (for the most part.) Victor Mature's portrayal of Nick is a lot softer than what you'd expect. He truly loves his kids, he cares abt his wife. The Assistant DA picks up on this and tries to use that love as a pressure point to get him to squeal. It looks like Nick's fairly close to agreeing at first before decided to keep his mouth shut. But, after the news abt his wife, he's determined to take care of his children (to the point of hopefully regaining custody of them and all that.) Mature plays it all with a lot of nuance.

One of the most interesting things abt this movie is that this was meant to be a vehicle of sorts for Mature. However, it ended up being a breakout film for Richard Widwark as Tommy Udo, one of the most dangerous criminals I've seen in a movie. Udo can (and does) go off at any moment for ANY reason. And Widmark plays him so well! His presence, physicality, and behavior won't let you take your eyes off him. He's a great villain.

Fun fact: Brian Donlevy who plays the Assistant DA in this movie is the same guy who was the second-in-command in The Big Combo. In this one, he's a lot less dejected, LOL.


Do I have any criticisms?

Colleen Gray as Nettie is a casting that I'm kinda meh abt. When she first appears, she comes across as a 19-y.o. (Gray was 25) and, later on, she still gives off teenage girl vibes. It doesn't help that the costume is extremely youthful. ON TOP OF THAT, Victor Mature (who was 33/34) looks, dresses, and moves around in the movie like someone who is at least 6 yrs old (so abt 40 y.o.)

There's an attraction between them, but her character has such a naive aura all through the movie. It creates this kinda weird imbalance. The one part I 😬 was when, after kissing, Nettie tells Nick something along the lines of "I've wanted you ever since I was a girl long time ago when I used to look at you". All right-y, then. O__o


Do I recommend it?

Yes! It's a quintessential noir that's got some good dialogue, acting, and some intense moments. You can watch it on Hulu Premium, YT Premium, and any of the free movie apps. I'm giving it a 3 out of 5 cuz I was that entertained.


Queerness level: Medium. This movie has two relationships that center Nick as the Subject of Desire. The first one leans more into INTENSE platonic vibes. It's between the Assistant DA and Nick. Especially after the Assistant DA dude makes a point abt how he usually doesn't go to bat for any criminal out there, but there's something abt Nick that has softened him up to him. IDK.

The second relationship is a lot more blatant and it's between Nick and Udo.

FTR, it's super obvious that Nick does NOT like Udo in any way, shape or form. Not as a person, not in a sexually/romantic sense, and not as a fellow criminal. Nick thinks Udo is disgusting. His whole vibe is NO, THANK YOU, UDO. I DON'T WANT TO SEE YOU. Kudos to Mature for layering his performance in such a way that you can see the contempt Nick feels even while around Udo.

HOWEVAH, that's not the case with Udo. From the start, from the v. second they meet, Udo REALLY LIKES NICK for some "unexplained reason".

Like, to the point that, after not interacting for at least 3 yrs, Udo is ECSTATIC abt running into Nick while at a boxing match with his girlfriend. They go to a jazz club. UDO IS ON CLOUD NINE: he's drinking champagne, listening to amazing live music, and spending time with HIS PAL NICK. FWIW, Nick is playing along (which Udo never realizes) in order to snitch on him.

All of the sudden, Udo tells his girlfriend (who never gets a name) to go home and stay there (cuz he'll go by later) JUST SO HE CAN KEEP ON PARTYING WITH NICK. The gf is obvs upset, but there's not much she can do (because Udo is, again, super volatile and scary). Once she leaves, Udo's like LET ME SHOW YOU WHAT THERE'S TO DO IN THIS TOWN!!! (🥳🥳🥳)

He's totally fixated with Nick in a way that goes beyond being chummy or even criminal pals. It's subtext, but it's THERE. IJS.

FTR, Udo does have a presence from the second he first shows up. However, the movie is abt Nick's ups and downs and so, Udo takes a backseat (plotwise) until a latter part of the film. (Adding this for folks who might want to check this movie out cuz of Foe!Yay reasons).

The Crooked Way (YouTube)

A 1949 movie from a v. small independent studio.

The movie begins sometime after WW2. A guy named Eddie (John Payne) is told by his doctor at the VA that he's as close to perfect health as possible. However, the doctors were unable to retrieve a piece of shrapnel from an area of Eddie's brain. Unfortunately, this is the area that deals with memory, so he'll never remember anything from before waking up in the hospital. The military documentation strongly indicates that Eddie was born in Los Angeles. So the doctor suggests heading over there after getting discharged from the hospital. This way, he'll have an easier way to reintegrate back into society and civilian life. It seems like a good starting point for Eddie, so he agrees to do just that.

Once he arrives in LA, he's stopped by two cops who pretty much growl at him abt "daring to return to LA thinking he can show up like a big man once again." Eddie is, understandably confused, but he's able to go along with things. One of the cops takes him back to the precinct to meet up with the chief.

Eddie's genuinely at a loss when the chief shows him a file with his photo under a different last name. This other Eddie has a long rap sheet. The cops let him go after advising him to leave the town because he'll be tempted to step out of line. If he does that, they'll send him to jail.

After walking around town, he meets Nina (Ellen Drew), a woman who (the viewer can tell) recognizes him…

It's a pretty interesting story. I like Payne as Eddie. He played a cooler/more aloof version of a gangster in how quick he is in sussing out most situations. It helps that he has an every white man face too for some reason. His relationship with Nina is SOMETHING ELSE. Drew plays Nina as a woman who is tough yet flexible and that's how she's been able to survive. Now that Eddie's back in her life, she has to face some things she'd buried.

The other great interaction is between Eddie and Vince (Sonny Tufts), their backstory is interesting. Tufts' version of villainy is super unpredictable. And that's something that makes him v. fun to watch.


Do I have any criticisms?

Even though the movie is around an hour and twenty, there are moments when the pacing slows down. Some scenes tend to drag a little. Also the last segment goes a bit too long.


Do I recommend it?
I do even though it's not a memorable film nor does it star anyone famous. However, it's a fine movie to check out for free. I did struggled a bit to grade it, so I'm settling on giving it a 2.6 out of 5.

It's available for streaming at all of the free movie apps as well as YouTube.


Queerness level: Low. IF someone tried hard enough, I can see a full Enemy/Enemy thing happening between Eddie/Vince (with the added layer of betrayal as the reason why they "broke up".)

Gonna do a double-feature type of thing in honor of Gene Tierney who is best known as the titular character in Laura. This time, I'm talking abt two other movies she starred in. They're both great examples of her range as an actress

* Where The Sidewalk Ends (Hoopla)

Premiering in 1950, this movie is abt Mark Dixon (Dana Andrews), a police detective. He's known for two things: he REALLY hates all criminals (because of something that doesn't get revealed until halfway thru the movie) and he's v. rough with criminals to the point that, at the beginning of the movie there are over 12 complaints against him for using excessive force.

His main target is Tommy Scalise (Gary Merrill), a gangster who hates him back. In any case, Dixon's life becomes v. complicated after something happens and he now has to find his way back onto solid ground.

Fun fact: this film is a reunion for Andrews and Tierney after their roles in Laura. IIRC, this movie came out around 6 yrs later. The chemistry they had back in that movie is still present in this one.

Unlike the urbane, hoity-toity circles where Laura was set, the characters in this movie exist in a much more modest (at least in terms of socio-economic class) reality. Here Tierney (as Morgan) is a working model, her father's a taxi driver, detectives don't make a lot money either and so on.

I liked this movie in terms of plot (especially when things go wrong for Dixon) and the complications makes things deliciously tense. I also loved Gary Merrill as Scalise. He was swarmy. This is the kind of movie you can enjoy.



Do I have any criticisms?

It something that's more from the perspective of 2024: I do kinda 😒 at how it presents the idea that cops are great overall. Dixon is, early on, singled out as an example of the "v. few bad apples" in the force. Everything's fine. People should respect the police cuz they're there to help. 🤢


Do I recommend it?

I do! I'm giving it a strong 3 out of 5. I've seen it as available for streaming in at least one of the free movie apps as well as on YouTube.

Queerness Level: Medium. The push-and-pull (and obsession) between Scalise and Dixon does play within AND outside the idea of two enemies. I'd say the queerness is coming slightly more from Scalise as he keep TAUNTING Dixon throughout the movie. It's not clear if he has a dame either? FWIW, you don't need the queer subtext to enjoy the movie, but it does add a bit of oomph to the Scalise v. Dixon scenes, IJS.



Trigger/Content Warnings: Please note that a character has a miscarriage (done on purpose) in Leave Her to Heaven. I'm aware that this something that some folks might want to avoid in the media they consume (which is totes valid), so I'm giving a heads up at the price of dropping a spoiler. I don't mention how or when it happens in this part of the post. However, since it's part of the plot, I'm choosing to warn folks. <3

* Leave Her To Heaven

A movie from 1945 that's FASCINATING.

It all kicks off with Ellen (Gene Tierney) and Richard (Cornell Wilde) having a meet cute on a train. He happens to be the author of the book she's currently reading. The attraction between them is pretty immediate. Whether it's coincidence or Fate (given that this is a noir, I'm inclined to think it's the latter), they both happen to be heading to the same hacienda in New Mexico (which is owned by an older friend of both of them.)

Once there, Ellen and Richard grow closer--despite the fact that Ellen's engaged to Russell (Vincent Price), a classy district attorney.

SOMEHOW, Ellen and Richard end up getting married! Shortly after, things begin to go askew…

Now, this is a movie that is GORGEOUS to look at. It was full Technicolor, so everything's so vivid and pleasing to the eye. t also has the kind of plot that begins fairly innocently. However, once it take a turn into Uh-Oh territory, you'll get a sense of unease that won't let you go.

I liked Cornell Wilde as Richard. He was a regular guy who happens to have gone head over heels for the most beautiful woman he'll ever meet. There's absolutely nothing twisted abt him or his life.

Another actor I liked was Jeanne Crain who played Ellen's cousin Ruth. Ellen and Ruth seem to be as close as sisters, tho. Now, it's not like Jeanne Crain isn't beautiful; she's got v. delicate features and beautiful blue eyes. But she plays Ruth as a a bit of a wallflower by choice since she's aware that she can never take the spotlight away from Ellen. And so she adopts a subservient position within the family with occasional burst of real personality.

I really liked Vincent Price as Russell. In this movie, he's not quite a villain, but he's not exactly a good guy.

OFC, the STAR of the movie is none other than the gorgeous, glamorous, alluring Gene Tierney as Ellen. The way she's filmed! Her costumes are impeccable. It doesn't take much to realize why Richard fell for her. She's a true representative of what's nowadays known as Pretty Privilege. In that she's got a carte blanche do anything she wants to do and she can get away with all of it.

Y'all I gotta head into spoilers

to talk abt Ellen and Richard's dynamic

So the whole thing abt Ellen and her pretty privilege is best exemplified by how freaking long it takes Richard to realize Ellen's not a good person. Nevermind his discovery of the INTENSITY of Ellen's obsessive nature. It's almost like the movie itself protects Richard (even when Ellen is doing all kinds of terrible things) from Ellen's wrath until it's too late.

This is the main reason why this movie IS a noir. There's a v. specific point when there movie detours from a regular, well-acted melodrama and into deep and bleak territory. Once that happens, there's literally no turning back.


Do I have any criticisms?

I actually but, once again, it's a spoiler. Let me go rant for a bit

abt he whole last part

in the courtroom scene where Russell is berating Ruth into admitting she murdered her cousin (which the viewers know is NOT true) and it goes on abt her feelings for Richard, how she needs to confess… IDK, something abt that scene rubbed me the wrong way. Mainly cuz Russell allowed his feelings for Ellen to push him into sending an innocent person to jail.

Do I recommend it?

Yes. I welcome the slower pace; it adds to the tension of what's going on both on the surface and below it. The movie's available at the free streaming sites, there are YouTube uploads as well. I watched it on Hoopla. I give it a 4 out of 5. Even with the issues I had toward the end, I can't deny how great of a film this is.

Queerness Level: Nonexistent. OTOH, this movie goes the extra mile to show how terribs M/F pairings (explicitly marriage) can be for everyone involved. IDK.

This post will be a TRIPLE rec for movies starring one of the Queens of Noir, Lizabeth Scott. A gorgeous blonde who has one of huskier voices I've ever heard, Scott's foray into noir movies is something of a treat. She's really good at playing within the conventions of the genre for female characters; going from good girl to a legit femme fatale with ease.


* Too Late for Tears (YouTube)

Also released under the title Killer Bait, this 1949 movie begins with Jane (Lizabeth Scott) and Alan (Arthur Kennedy) a middle-class married couple, having an argument abt money while en route to a dinner party. Right before he yields to Jane's wishes to not attend, someone driving a car in the opposite way drops a bag in Alan's car. When they check it, they're shocked to find $60k (or, roughly a little over $600,000 in today's money.)

From the start, Alan wants to turn the money to the police cuz the money isn't theirs. Meanwhile, Jane is DAZZLED by all that coin. She convinces Alan to wait a little while before really deciding what to do abt this whole thing.

The next day, Jane's already dipping into the kitty, buying herself a lot of clothes. In order to keep her from temptation, Alan decides to put the remaining dough in a locker at the train station (for which Alan gets a claim ticket). Then, THE NEXT MORNING, a gangster called Danny Fuller (Dan Duryea) shows up at the apartment asking abt the bag...


This movie has a ton of twists. It's also v. tightly plotted. Scott shines in the role of someone who'll do anything to keep that money and without zero regrets.

The suspense is top notch. Things get messier and messier. The casting was good too (for the most part.)


Do I have any criticisms?

There's a secondary plot that has to do with another random guy named Don Blake (Don DeFore) who wants to talk to Jane cuz he'd been in the army with Jane's first husband. He also has an, imo, forced romance with Alan's sister Kathy (Kristine Miller). Coincidentally, Kathy lives across the hall from Jane and Alan. I was NOT here for Don. He had a v. swarmy face and his behavior was so obnoxious that I was doing this every time he showed up onscreen: 🙅🏾‍♀️

I was a bit annoyed with the final twist. It wasn't a bad one, but it should've been revealed/should've happened earlier in the movie. Because, by the time it happened, I was like "but what about..????". And then the movie ends with no answers abt that.


Do I recommend it?

Yes! Like other noirs, this movie is part of public domain so you can watch it on YouTube, Hulu, probably Amazon Prime Video, Hoopla app (in the US), and also all of the free movie apps. I'm giving it a solid 3.5 out of 5.


Queerness Level: V. low. All of the dynamics are hetero-centric. *Hands*



* The Strange Love of Martha Ivers (Hoopla)

The movie kicks off in 1928. Thirteen year old, rich girl Martha Ivers and her lower class bestie Sam Masterson are caught while attempting to run away. Sam ends up leaving Iverstown. (Yes, Martha's family is so loaded that they own the town and most of the enterprises within it.) Anyways, Martha's sent to her aunt Mrs. Ivers (played really well by Dame Judith Anderson) and awaits punishment.

Meanwhile, Martha's tutor (Mr. O'Neil) keeps pushing Martha and Walter (his son) together. Mrs. Ivers is okay-ish with that given that they're in similar socio-econnomic classes.

The movie then jumps ahead to 1946 when a now adult Sam (played by Van Heflin) drives into Iverstown by accident while heading West. He ends up in a car accident, so he has to stay in town for a while. Walking around and trying to re-familiarize with a place he's not visited in almost 20 years, he meets Antonia "Toni" Maracheck (played by Lizabeth Scott.)

Many things have changed in Iverstown. Martha (Barbara Stanwick) and Walter (Kirk Douglas in his first role)'s lives are different. Everyone has something shifty abt them (including Toni and Sam). Buried secrets are coming up, an obsession is reignited, and making the wrong step can lead to death…


Let me tell you, every time I've sat down to watch this movie, I end up diving in with total abandon.

The ACTING is SUPERB. Van Heflin's Sam is realistic without being cruel. He's done a lot of things in the 18-year span (that we don't ever learn abt), and it's clear that it has toughened him up just abt enough to move thru life. Kirk Douglas as Walter is such a great example of someone whose pain has damaged him all the way to his core. Lizabeth Scott as Toni is glowing and fresh-faced. She's v. likable but there are some parts of her character that make it clear she's holding her cards v. closely. She won't show them unless she's cornered. And then, ofc, we got Barbara Stanwick. SHES RIDIC GOOD cuz she's so rotten! Still, a lot abt her makes sense because the movie shows that she's had to live with the consequences of the choices she made. She's a character who seemed fated to grow up the way she did.

I do wonder if, in another life, things would've turned out differently for Martha and Walter. Maybe not. Maybe it'd have been the same, IDK. There's so much yummy push and pull between them. Same for Martha and Sam as well as Sam and Toni. Like, for a movie that has 4 main characters, viewers do get to spend a lot of time getting to know each one. Thus, their motivations make sense. It's a deeply rich watching experience.

Oh, and the dialogue! Snappy and cynical.


Do I have any critiques?

No? Hahah.

Well, okay, there have been times when I watch the movie and I get frustrated with Sam's indecisiveness w/r/t Martha and Toni. OTOH, that's part of the plot, so this is more of an observation than a weak point. OTOH, Sam's only met Toni vs. him knowing Martha (up to when he was 13 and then jumping ahead 18 yrs). So, an argument can be made that both women ARE a mystery to Sam for different reasons.


Do I recommend it?

HELL FUCKING YEAH!! This is a movie that would work for folks who avoid B&W movies for whatever reason. Everything (plot, cinematography, dialogue, casting, acting) is Chef's Kiss to the MAXXXXXX. I also feel it's one of the "easier" film noirs to check out because the plot is a lot more straightforward than in other movies of the genre (such as The Big Sleep or Out of the Past, frex.)

I'm giving it a 4.5 out of 5.

Oh, and I have to add a content warning for animal harm (including death)

at the beginnig of the movie, Martha's aunt hits a kitten to death. It's not shown, but you can hear it happen

Sadly for the ppl who owns the rights (but luckily for everyone else), the movie did enter public domain around 1974. You can most deffo rent it if you want to. But it's also readily available on every free streaming site you can think of as well as Amazon Prime Video, Hoopla (in the US), and there are lots of uploads on YouTube as well.

Queerness Level: Again, super-low.



* Pitfall (YouTube)

Released in 1949, this movie is abt John Forbes (Dick Powell) who is married, has a kid, and works at an insurance company. John's life is good, but he has been feeling restless. At this point in the story, he's dissatisfied with his life; feeling like he's stuck in a rut and no else cares.

He meets up with MacDonald, a freelance PI (played by Raymond Burr), to go over a case of embezzlement. MacDonald tells John abt Mona, the embezzler's girlfriend. It's super obvious he's gaga over her. John doesn't pick up on this and dismisses him after stating that he's going to meet up with Mona in order to retrieve some items bought with the stolen money. MacDonald's not happy abt that, but he does asks John to "put in the good word" in his behalf.

John meets Mona. They do an inventory of all of the items. Their chemistry is pretty clear from the get. In a short period of time, they start an affair. All the while, MacDonald is stalking Mona. Then there's also Sue, John's wife (played by Jane Wyatt), who's suspicious abt John's comings and goings. Everything starts to go sideways, backwards, all kinds of ways until someone dies.


This is a little bit closer to the usual noir format (the insurance angle, the PI, etc.) with the slight difference that there's not really a femme fatale. If anything, there's an homme fatale (I won't say who.)

Lizabeth Scott's Mona is v. interesting in that she's sweet but there's this deep sadness under her facade. There's a kind of resignation to her as to what will happen once her boyfriend's released from jail. Dick Powell as John is a regular guy who gets his wish granted (to have a more exciting life) only to realize that he doesn't want that either, LOL. Raymond Burr as MacDonald is the type of guy who you want to steer away from. He's perfect as the PI. I felt for Sue (Jane Wyatt) cuz she's so smart and aware of what's going on, but her bond to John (mostly romantic) is keeping her in a type of limbo.

Take the ending. Which is bittersweet even though it's meant to have an uplifting note.

I'm just kinda 🤔 abt how it came to be.

Because it's upsetting in how realistic it is that Sue is willing to give her marriage to John another try. And yet, I genuinely don't think he deserves it. Since his affair with Mona lead to their lives being upended. In the beginning of the movie, he complains left and right abt the tediousness of his life, how mundane it is. Only for Sue to tell him that he needs to chill the F out cuz he has a good paying job, their home is nice, and they've been married for years now. It's super mega clear that John's whole thing is that there are several unfulfilled ambitions he's had and now it's when he's reflecting on that, I guess. At the same time, he could find something else to do instead of getting mixed up with someone who isn't his wife and almost losing everything.

Again, this isn't a happy ending. On top of that, it's v. hinted that he truly loved Mona. And, out of everyone, Mona's the one who's going to jail! IDK, it's one of those endings that make you 😒 at John.

And yet, for REASONS, Sue is willing to give him another chance to work on their marriage. But at what cost? It could be that she loves her husband, but it's also possible that she's staying with him for convenience and financial reasons? IDK if they should stay together.

Do I have any criticisms?

The plot does tend to wander this way and that. Between John/Sue's marriage not being quite on the rocks but not being great either; John/Mona's dreamy love affair that's not meant to last; MacDonald's whole stalker thing; Mona's bf coming into the picture; the whole embezzlement thing. NGL, it does get to be a little too much.

That said, this isn't a bad movie.


Do I recommend watching it?

Sure! The movie's on Amazon Prime Video and at least 2 of the free movie sites. I watched it on YouTube (there are several uploads of it.) Ultimately, it's a standard noir that's not as known. I'm giving it a 2.8 out of 5. It was fine.

Queerness Level: We're 3 for 3 cuz there's nothing I could pick up that sidestepped heteronormativity here.