Cornered (1945 film)
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Theatrical release poster
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| Directed by | Edward Dmytryk |
| Produced by | Adrian Scott |
| Screenplay by | John Paxton Ben Hecht |
| Story by | John Wexley |
| Starring |
Dick Powell Walter Slezak |
| Music by |
Roy Webb Paul Sawtell |
| Cinematography | Harry J. Wild |
| Edited by | Joseph Noriega |
| Distributed by | RKO Radio Pictures |
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Release date
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Running time
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102 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $500,000 |
Cornered is a 1945 film noir starring Dick Powell and directed by Edward Dmytryk. This is the second teaming of Powell and Dmytryk (after Murder, My Sweet). Many scenes shot by cinematographer Harry J. Wild and Dmytryk stand out as classic film noir. The screenplay was written by John Paxton with uncredited help from Ben Hecht.
After the end of World War II, a former P.O.W., Canadian RCAF flyer Laurence Gerard (Powell), returns to France to discover who ordered the killing of his bride of only 20 days, a member of the French Resistance. His father-in-law Etienne Rougon identifies Vichy collaborator Marcel Jarnac. He supposedly died in 1943, but Rougon has strong doubts. Jarnac was so careful about maintaining his anonymity, there is not even a description of him on record. Gerard finds the partially burned front page of a dossier on Jarnac and an envelope addressed to Madame Jarnac in the rubble of the home of Jarnac's closest associate. The return address on the envelope indirectly allows Gerard to track the widow to Buenos Aires, Argentina.
When he arrives, Gerard is met at the airport by Melchior Incza (Walter Slezak), a stranger who appears to know all too much about him. The suspicious Canadian initially rejects Incza's offer of help, but cannot turn down his invitation to a party hosted by wealthy businessman Tomas Camargo (Steven Geray) for the opportunity to mingle with Mme Jarnac's social set. There he meets Camargo's uncle, Manuel Santana (Morris Carnovsky), and the widow herself (Micheline Cheirel).
When Gerard later questions Mme Jarnac in her hotel room, she refuses to cooperate, so he starts openly following her. Santana asks him to desist, for reasons he will not divulge. Later, Gerard finds a suspicious valet, Diego (Jack La Rue), tidying up his hotel room at an odd hour.
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Wikipedia