The Dark Corner (1946)

100% of critics liked it
(8 reviews)
68% of users liked it
(1,068 ratings)

This grade-A example of "film noir" stars Mark Stevens as Brad Galt, an embittered ex-convict who returns to the private detective business upon his release. Sour and surly, Galt behaves himself only when he's around his faithful and adoring secretary Kathleen (top-billed Lucille Ball). When Galt's… More This grade-A example of "film noir" stars Mark Stevens as Brad Galt, an embittered ex-convict who returns to the private detective business upon his release. Sour and surly, Galt behaves himself only when he's around his faithful and adoring secretary Kathleen (top-billed Lucille Ball). When Galt's crooked former partner Tony Jardine (Kurt Krueger) inaugurates an affair with socialite Mari Cathcart (Cathy Downs), Cathcart's waspish art-collector husband (Clifton Webb) arranges Jardine's murder, carefully pinning the blame on Galt. On the lam from the cops, Galt must rely on Kathleen to help gather enough evidence to prove his innocence. Best scene: Cathcart's abrupt but chillingly casual murder of his partner-in-crime (William Bendix). The deliberate lack of background music serves to enhance the gloomy atmosphere of The Dark Corner. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 39 min.
Directed By: Henry Hathaway
Written By: Jay Dratler, Bernard C. Schoenfeld
Genres: Drama, Mystery & Suspense, Classics

In Theaters: Apr 9, 1946 Wide
On DVD: Dec 6, 2005
Studio: 20th Century Fox

Critic Reviews

Don Druker, Chicago Reader
A pretty good thriller.
David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews
...a compelling, surprisingly suspenseful little film noir.
Fernando F. Croce, Slant Magazine
No less than other noir classics, The Dark Corner is full of sadistic bits of business.
Fernando F. Croce, Slant Magazine
Not dark enough, but a Corner still worth a stroll.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
A superb film noir in every way possible.
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
Nifty, effective little thriller.

Read all 6 critic reviews

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Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

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Featured Audience Ratings

Randy T

It's hard for a film to be dark and foreboding when Lucy is around, she sparkles far too much for film noir. Her gams may say <i>Double Indemnity</i> but her personality screams <i>Duck Soup</i>.
jay n

Tight little noir that would have benefitted from a different leading man. Mark Stevens isn't bad he just lacks the charisma and star quality of those other great noir protaganists like Mitchum and Kirk Douglas. Lucy is sharp and sassy as the girl Friday as she usually was in her… More
Tight little noir that would have benefitted from a different leading man. Mark Stevens isn't bad he just lacks the charisma and star quality of those other great noir protaganists like Mitchum and Kirk Douglas. Lucy is sharp and sassy as the girl Friday as she usually was in her pre-TV films. Good support from William Bendix plus the great Clifton Webb. Hathaway provides lean direction.
Stella D

this is good noir but lucille ball is annoying. she was a constant distraction. maybe it's just me :p
Michael G

A really great noir flick that no one's ever heard of. And it frightens me that Lucille Ball could actually be sexy.
Byron B

A good little noir. I enjoyed getting to see Lucille Ball in a different light. She's good in this serious role. The private eye played by Webb doesn't seem all that great with his powers of deduction. Figuring out the mystery of who is trying to frame him takes a looong… More
A good little noir. I enjoyed getting to see Lucille Ball in a different light. She's good in this serious role. The private eye played by Webb doesn't seem all that great with his powers of deduction. Figuring out the mystery of who is trying to frame him takes a looong time. There appears to be a plot hole in the coincidence of the P.I. showing up at the art dealer's studio. Or maybe the filmmakers were trying not to be too obvious in putting the pieces together, since you never see the detective solve the mystery till it is too late. He's just stumbling through.
Doctor S

Well-plotted, low-budget noir with not one but three enjoyable bad guys, in fact all of them upstage the hero! I guess that's why 'Mark Stevens' is not one of those names spoken with reverence today. Bonus points for having Lucille Ball during her film career as… More
Well-plotted, low-budget noir with not one but three enjoyable bad guys, in fact all of them upstage the hero! I guess that's why 'Mark Stevens' is not one of those names spoken with reverence today. Bonus points for having Lucille Ball during her film career as smartmouthed secretary.

Read all 6 featured audience ratings

Cast

            Lucille Ball as Kathleen

            Clifton Webb as Hardy Cathcart

            Mark Stevens as Bradford Galt

            William Bendix as White Suit

            Cathy Downs as Mari Cathcart

            Eddie Heywood & Orch. as Themselves

            Mary Field as Cashier

            John W. Goldsworthy as Butler

            Vincent Graeff as Newsboy

            Reed Hadley as Lt. Frank Reeves

            Eloise Hardt as Saleswoman

            Kurt Kreuger as Tony Jardine

            Molly Lamont as Lucy Wilding

            Hope Landin as Scrubwoman

            Thomas Martin as Major Domo

            Matt McHugh as Milk Man

            Forbes Murray as Mr. Bryson

            Steve Olsen as Barker

            Frieda Stoll as Frau Keller

            Gisela Werbiseck as Mrs. Schwartz

            Charles Wagenheim as Foss

            Regina Wallace as Mrs. Bryson

            Charles Cane as Policeman

            Constance Collier as Mrs. Kingsley

            Ellen Corby as Maid

            Peter Cusanelli as Man

            Ralph Dunn as Policeman

            Alice Fleming as Woman

            Thomas Lockyear as Elderly Man

            Donald MacBride as Policeman

            Tom Monroe as Policeman

            Lee Phelps as Policeman

            Isabel Randolph as Woman

            Pietro Sosso as Man

            Charles Tannen as Cabbie

            Minerva Urecal as Mother

            Lynn Whitney as Stenographer

            John Kelly as Policeman

            John Russell as Policeman

            John Elliott as Man
See full cast