Lady in the Lake (1947)

Director:

Robert Montgomery

Writers:

Steve Fisher (screenplay)
Raymond Chandler (novel)

Release Date:

14 April 1947 (Sweden)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Film-Noir | Mystery | Romance

Tagline:

Another Sizzling Murder Mystery by RAYMOND CHANDLER!

Plot:

The camera shows Phillip Marlowe's view from the first-person in this adaptation of Raymond Chandler's book...

Plot Keywords:

First Person | Publisher | Detective | Fistfight | Femme Fatale

Cast

Robert Montgomery	...	Phillip Marlowe
Audrey Totter	...	Adrienne Fromsett
Lloyd Nolan	...	Lt. DeGarmot
Tom Tully	...	Capt. Kane
Leon Ames	...	Derace Kingsby
Jayne Meadows	...	Mildred Haveland aka Muriel Chess
Dick Simmons	...	Chris Lavery
Morris Ankrum	...	Eugene Grayson
Lila Leeds	...	Receptionist
William Roberts	...	Artist
Kathleen Lockhart	...	Mrs. Grayson
Ellay Mort	...	Chrystal Kingsby
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Eddie Acuff	...	Ed, the Coroner (uncredited)
Charles Bradstreet	...	Party Guest (uncredited)
David Cavendish	...	Party Guest (uncredited)
Wheaton Chambers	...	Property Clerk (uncredited)
Roger Cole	...	Party Guest (uncredited)
Frank Dae	...	Party Guest (uncredited)
Jack Davis	...	Policeman (uncredited)
John Webb Dillon	...	Policeman (uncredited)
Ralph Dunn	...	Sergeant (uncredited)
Budd Fine	...	Policeman (uncredited)
John Gallaudet	...	Policeman (uncredited)
Sherry Hall	...	Party Guest (uncredited)
Cy Kendall	...	Jailer (uncredited)
Ann Lawrence	...	Party Guest (uncredited)
George Magrill	...	Policeman (uncredited)
Bert Moorhouse	...	Party Guest (uncredited)
Sandra Morgan	...	Party Guest (uncredited)
Thomas Murray	...	Policeman (uncredited)
William Newell	...	Drunk (uncredited)
James Nolan	...	Party Guest (uncredited)
William O'Leary	...	Party Guest (uncredited)
Frank Orth	...	Floyd Greer (uncredited)
William McKeever Riley	...	Buster, Young Party Guest (uncredited)
Ellen Ross	...	Elevator Girl (uncredited)
Nina Ross	...	Party Guest (uncredited)
Fred Santley	...	Charlie, Party Guest (uncredited)
Fred Sherman	...	Reporter (uncredited)
Florence Stephens	...	Party Guest (uncredited)
George Travell	...	Party Guest (uncredited)
Laura Treadwell	...	Party Guest (uncredited)
Kay Wiley	...	Party Guest (uncredited)
Robert Williams	...	Detective (uncredited)

Directed by
Robert Montgomery

Writing credits
Steve Fisher		(screenplay)
Raymond Chandler		(novel)

Produced by
George Haight	....	producer

Original Music by
David Snell
Maurice Goldman		(uncredited)

Cinematography by
Paul Vogel		(director of photography) (as Paul C. Vogel)

Film Editing by
Gene Ruggiero

Art Direction by
E. Preston Ames		(as Preston Ames)
Cedric Gibbons

Set Decoration by
Edwin B. Willis

Makeup Department
Jack Dawn	....	makeup designer
Sydney Guilaroff	....	hair designer: Miss Totter

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Dolph Zimmer	....	assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Thomas Theuerkauf	....	associate set decorator

Sound Department
Douglas Shearer	....	recording director

Special Effects by
A. Arnold Gillespie	....	special effects

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Irene	....	costume supervisor

Music Department
Maurice Goldman	....	choral director
Wally Heglin	....	orchestrator (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Distributors

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1947) (USA) (theatrical) (controlled by Loew's Incorporated)
• Silver Screen (2007) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2006) (USA) (DVD)

Runtime:

105 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Certification:

Canada:PG (video rating) | Argentina:13 | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15 | USA:Approved (PCA #11803)

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivia:

The entire movie plot unfolds from lead Robert Montgomery's point of view, thus creating a rarity in film: the principal character is only seen on-screen as a reflection in mirrors and windows, and as the narrator speaking directly to the audience.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: When Lieutenant DeGarmot is punched and he hits the floor, we can see the taped marks on the floor used for the actors.

Quotes:

Adrienne: Do you fall in love with all of your clients?
Marlowe: Only the ones in skirts.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Hold Your Breath and Cross Your Fingers: The Story of 'Dark Passage' (2003) (V)

Soundtrack:

Jingle Bells

Film noir with a unique twist

Out of the many Marlowe novel adaptations, this must be one of the closest to the spirit of the original. Unfortunately Chandler himself does not seem to have had the opportunity to contribute to the screenplay - although there are plenty of Chandleresque wisecracks. The film, unlike most of the other adaptions reflects the original author's full dislike of the cops (although the tough police chief having to answer a telephone call from his daughter during an interrogation is an unusual appeal for the viewer's understanding), and mistrust bordering on pathological hatred of women (I suspect that the ending is an uncharacteristic 'cop out' to assuage the producer's or popular taste). Director/star Robert Montgomery shows great self-restraint by appearing only briefly in the action. When he does show himself, mainly in mirror-reflections, the star appears (as in that other great latter day film noir, China Town) battered and bruised and not at all flattering. The plot is suitably twisted and confusing - just like the novels. And the concept of timing the whole dark affair against the backdrop of the Christmas holidays only emphasises the bleakness of the subject matter. Incidentally the idea of continuing the opening titles' jolly Christmas carol chorus in darker, more disturbing tones throughout the soundtrack is fascinating and I think unique. Audrey Totter (whatever happened to her?) makes a very sexy femme fatale. And as she plays most of her lines to camera we are seduced just as protagonist Marlowe. On top of that, her gowns are absolutely magnificent examples of forties chic. Lloyd Nolan deserves special mention as a superb heavy. What a wonderful example of Hollywood film noir.