what noir is this?
February 15, 2016 2:12 AM Subscribe
It's film about an unsuccessful artist who gives up his art in despair and leaves town. When he returns many years later he discovers he's presumed dead, very famous, and his agent and the girlfriend who betrayed him are making a packet out of his prestigious reputation and their memories of him.
A myth has grown up around him that he killed himself because he thought his work wasn't good enough. Before he left, there's a scene where he tries to give the girlfriend a painting of a fairground for her birthday. She's incensed, tries to tear it up and throws it to the ground while telling him what a loser he is. I think this scene takes place in the same fairground, with the couple sitting on a bench? Later, after his return when noone recognises him, the girlfriend tells him how he tried to destroy the painting and she stopped him. Then there's a line at the reveal, 'You tore that painting yourself with your filthy fingernails!'
It's very very noir, with the moodiness and the cynicism and the black-and-white and 40s clothes. I've a feeling it's a well-known film. And I'm thinking Dana Andrews, but I may be completely wrong about that?
Anyone know what this film is?
A myth has grown up around him that he killed himself because he thought his work wasn't good enough. Before he left, there's a scene where he tries to give the girlfriend a painting of a fairground for her birthday. She's incensed, tries to tear it up and throws it to the ground while telling him what a loser he is. I think this scene takes place in the same fairground, with the couple sitting on a bench? Later, after his return when noone recognises him, the girlfriend tells him how he tried to destroy the painting and she stopped him. Then there's a line at the reveal, 'You tore that painting yourself with your filthy fingernails!'
It's very very noir, with the moodiness and the cynicism and the black-and-white and 40s clothes. I've a feeling it's a well-known film. And I'm thinking Dana Andrews, but I may be completely wrong about that?
Anyone know what this film is?
Yeah sounds like Scarlet Street / La Chiene, but your description is a little mixed up - it's not the painter who turns up alive, it's his wife's ex husband.
posted by Dr Dracator at 7:57 AM on February 15, 2016
posted by Dr Dracator at 7:57 AM on February 15, 2016
Response by poster: I may well have got the story a bit mixed up - was a kid when I saw it on telly and our viewing was often interrupted by power cuts - easy to get muddled with the gaps that leaves.
Fritz Lang, eh? But now having read the synopsis I don't remember any of that. And surely so much grimness wouldn't have gone so completely over my head that I didn't notice it at all. No filthy fingernails either. No, I don't think that's it. Thanks though.
posted by glasseyes at 11:32 AM on February 15, 2016
Fritz Lang, eh? But now having read the synopsis I don't remember any of that. And surely so much grimness wouldn't have gone so completely over my head that I didn't notice it at all. No filthy fingernails either. No, I don't think that's it. Thanks though.
posted by glasseyes at 11:32 AM on February 15, 2016
« Older What's a reasonable rent estimate for Misson/SoMa? | Tell me about how you managed De Quervain's... Newer »
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by the webmistress at 6:43 AM on February 15, 2016