Blind Alley **** (1939, Chester Morris, Ralph Bellamy, Ann Dvorak) – Classic Movie Review 11,813

Director Charles Vidor’s 1939 black and white Columbia Pictures film Blind Alley is a trail-blazing psychoanalysis film-noir thriller, about murderously tough hood Hal Wilson (Chester Morris) busting loose from jail and hiding out with a family of hostages who conveniently include psychiatrist Dr Shelby (Ralph Bellamy). Naturally, before you can say mumbo jumbo, Dr Shelby hypnotises Hal Wilson and delves into his troubled psyche. We see his wicked past in flashback form.

Perhaps it may be easy to deride now, but that would be wrong because it is still a totally fascinating little mind drama, very well played (especially by Morris and Bellamy), and directed with an eye to eerie mood and considerable tension. Lucien Ballard’s cinematography contributes significantly to the film-noir mood. Blind Alley is notable as a pioneer of both psychoanalysis films and home invasion films.

The screenplay by Philip MacDonald, Michael Blankfort and Albert Duffy is based on James Warwick’s 1935 play.

It is remade as The Dark Past in 1948 with William Holden.

Philip MacDonald (5 November 1900 – 10 December 1980) was a British writer of fiction and screenplays, best known for thrillers.

Forgotten star Chester Morris (16 February 1901 – 11 September 1970) enjoyed a 50-year film career with top roles early on, and received an Academy Award nomination for Alibi (1929), but is best remembered in Meet Boston Blackie and the ensuing series.

The cast are Chester Morris as Hal Wilson, Ralph Bellamy as Dr Shelby, Ann Dvorak as Mary, Joan Perry as Linda Curtis, Melville Cooper as George Curtis, Rose Stradner as Doris Shelby, John Eldredge as Dick Holbrook, Ann Doran as Agnes, Marc Lawrence as Buck, Stanley Brown as Fred Landis, Scotty Beckett as Davy Shelby, Milburn Stone as Nick, and Marie Blake as Harriet.

© Derek Winnert 2021 Classic Movie Review 11,813

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