Experiment Perilous *** (1944, Hedy Lamarr, Paul Lukas, George Brent, Albert Dekker, Margaret Wycherly, Julia Dean, Carl Esmond, Olive Blakeney) – Classic Movie Review 6,861

Jacques Tourneur’s stylish, eerie and entertaining 1944 Gothic romantic film noir thriller Experiment Perilous is based on a novel by Margaret Carpenter. It stars the fine team of Hedy Lamarr, Paul Lukas and George Brent. And it is one of Lamarr’s best. 

Director Jacques Tourneur’s stylish, eerie and entertaining 1944 Gothic romantic film noir thriller Experiment Perilous is based on a novel by Margaret Carpenter. It stars the fine team of Hedy Lamarr, Paul Lukas, George Brent, Albert Dekker, Margaret Wycherly, Julia Dean, Carl Esmond and Olive Blakeney, all performing at a high level of inspiration.

In 1913, deep within a menacing New York mansion, Nick Bederaux (Lucas) is trying to drive his wife Alida (Lamarr) insane. But fear not, no-nonsense doctor Huntington Bailey (Brent) is at hand to help her out in her hour of need – if he can.

Thanks to grand work all round, we find it purring beautifully along Gaslight lines. It is most neatly acted, superbly photographed, beautifully designed and persuasively directed by Tourneur. And it is one of Lamarr’s best. It was nominated for one Oscar: Best Art Direction-Interior Decoration, Black-and-White for Albert S D’Agostino and Jack Okey (Art Direction) and Darrell Silvera and Claude E. Carpenter (Interior Decoration).

MGM wanted to star Hedy Lamarr in Gaslight (1944) after Columbia Pictures sold the rights to them. Intriguingly, Lamarr is said to have turned down the leads in both Gaslight (1944) and Casablanca (1942), both roles going to Ingrid Bergman. Experiment Perilous is a decent consolation prize.

Also in the cast are Stephanie Bachelor, Mary Servoss, William Post Jr, George N Neise, Edward Clark, Janet Clark, Adrienne D’Ambricourt, Jack Deery, John Elliott, Evelyn Falke, Almeda Fowler, Joel Friedkin, Sherry Hall, Perc Launders, Nolan Leary, Sam McDaniel, Charles McMurphy, Peggy Miller, John Mylong, Broderick O’Farrell, Michael Orr, Paula Raymond, Georges Renavent, Michael Visaroff, Alan Ward, Billy Ward, and Larry Wheat.

Experiment Perilous is directed by Jacques Tourneur, runs 91 minutes, is released by RKO, is written by Warren Duff, is shot in black and white by Tony Gaudio, is produced by Robert Fellows and Warren Duff, is scored by Roy Webb, and is designed by Albert S D’Agostino and Jack Okey.

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 6,861

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