Decoy (1946)

User Rating:

7.1/10   

Director:

Jack Bernhard

Writers:

Nedrick Young (screenplay)
Stanley Rubin (story)

Release Date:

14 September 1946 (USA)

Genre:

Film-Noir | Crime | Drama

Tagline:

She Treats Men the Way They've Been Treating Women for Years!

Plot:

A fatally shot female gangleader recounts her sordid life of crime to a police officer just before she dies.

Plot Keywords:

Prison | Gangster | Gas Chamber | Prison Doctor | Cyanide

Cast

Jean Gillie	...	Margot Shelby (as Miss Jean Gillie)
Edward Norris	...	Jim Vincent
Robert Armstrong	...	Frank Olins
Herbert Rudley	...	Dr. Craig
Sheldon Leonard	...	Sergeant Joe Portugal
Marjorie Woodworth	...	Nurse
Philip Van Zandt	...	Tommy (as Phil Van Zandt)
Carole Donne	...	Waitress
John Shay	...	Al
Bert Roach	...	Bartender
Rosemary Bertrand	...	Ruth

Runtime:

76 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Certification:

USA:Approved (PCA #11768, Adult Audience)

Company:

Pathe Pictures

Trivia:

Director Jack Bernhard met wife Jean Gillie in England, where he was stationed during WWII. He intended this film as a vehicle to showcase her to American audiences, but they divorced a short while later, and she did only one other film before her early death at age 33.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: Right at the beginning, when Dr Craig's reflection is seen on the mirror, the dark line behind him is a shadow from either the camera or a boom mic, as it moves when the camera pulls away.

Quotes:

Bartender: Louie asked her how old she was. She said 23.
Sergeant Joe Portugal: If she's 20, I'll eat that glass.
Bartender: Well, Kelsey brought her in.
Sergeant Joe Portugal: Okay, okay, but if I catch you selling liquor to minors, I'll bust this joint into toothpicks!

Movie Connections:

Featured in Decoy: A Map to Nowhere (2007) (V)

A really focused lady

A bit far fetched and a little wooden in places this is nevertheless such an excellent story that it is simply irresistible. Stunning performance from Jean Gillie as the femme fatale, par excellence, with no less than all four of the leading men in awe. Apparently we get to see little else from this enigmatic lady because she marries the director, divorces shortly after the film's release and dies within 3 years. Shame because such promise here with a really solid and uncompromising turn. A really focused lady, she doesn't even blink as others die around her and movie's false and real endings are priceless. Great entertainment all the way.