Lured (1947)

User Rating:

7.0/10   

Director:

Douglas Sirk

Writers:

Jacques Companéez (story)
Simon Gantillon (story)
(more)

Release Date:

5 September 1947 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Film-Noir | Mystery | Thriller

Plot:

A serial killer in London is murdering young women whom he meets through the personal columns of newspapers;...

Plot Keywords:

Personals Column | Serial Killer | Poetry | Dance Hall | Taxi Dancer

Cast

George Sanders	...	Robert Fleming
Lucille Ball	...	Sandra Carpenter
Charles Coburn	...	Inspector Harley Temple
Boris Karloff	...	Charles van Druten - the Artist
Cedric Hardwicke	...	Julian Wilde (as Sir Cedric Hardwicke)
Joseph Calleia	...	Dr. Nicholas Moryani
Alan Mowbray	...	Lyle Maxwell alias Maxim Duval
George Zucco	...	Officer H. R. Barrett
Robert Coote	...	Detective - Temple's 2d asst.
Alan Napier	...	Detective Gordon - Temple's 1st asst.
Tanis Chandler	...	Lucy Barnard
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jimmy Aubrey	...	Nelson - Mgr. of Dance Hall (uncredited)
Lynn Baggett	...	Robert's rejected girlfriend (uncredited)
Brooks Benedict	...	Concertgoer (uncredited)
Colin Campbell	...	Wilberforce - reads Art. 9 to Sir Charles (uncredited)
Jack Chefe	...	Pierre, the Headwaiter (uncredited)
Ann Codee	...	Matilda - van Druten's French maid (uncredited)
Charles Coleman	...	Sir Charles - the Banker (uncredited)
James Conaty	...	Concertgoer (uncredited)
Sayre Dearing	...	Concertgoer in Lobby (uncredited)
Cyril Delevanti	...	Medical Examiner (uncredited)
Herbert Evans	...	Fleming's Butler (uncredited)
Alex Frazer	...	Prof Harkness - Baudelaire Expert (uncredited)
Gerald Hamer	...	Harry Milton, Theatrical Agent (uncredited)
Sam Harris	...	Old Man at Concert Asking For Whiskey (uncredited)
Mike Lally	...	Mike, Nightclub Bartender (uncredited)
Isabel La Mal	...	Dowager shushing Fleming at Concert (uncredited)
Ethelreda Leopold	...	Blonde nightclub singer (uncredited)
Harold Miller	...	Concertgoer in Lobby (uncredited)
Eddie Parks	...	Oswald Pickering - Dance Hall Customer (uncredited)
Jeffrey Sayre	...	Concertgoer (uncredited)
Wyndham Standing	...	Asst. Medical Examiner (uncredited)
Dorothy Vaughan	...	Mrs. Miller - Fleming's maid (uncredited)
Eric Wilton	...	Ticket Booth Clerk (uncredited)
Florence Wix	...	Bus Passenger (uncredited)

Directed by
Douglas Sirk

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Jacques Companéez		story
Simon Gantillon		story
Ernest Neuville		story
Leo Rosten		writer

Produced by
Henry S. Kesler	....	associate producer (as Henry Kesler)
James Nasser	....	producer
Hunt Stromberg	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Michel Michelet

Cinematography by
William H. Daniels		(as William Daniels)

Film Editing by
John M. Foley
James E. Newcom

Production Design by
Nicolai Remisoff

Costume Design by
Eloise Jensson		(as Elois Jenssen)

Makeup Department
Don L. Cash	....	makeup artist
Josephine Sweeney	....	hair stylist

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Clarence Eurist	....	assistant director

Sound Department
John R. Carter	....	sound (as John Carter)
H. Connors	....	sound
Joseph I. Kane	....	sound (as Joe Kane)

Music Department
David Chudnow	....	musical director

Production Companies

• Hunt Stromberg Productions (as Oakmont Pictures, Inc.)

Distributors

• United Artists (1947) (USA) (theatrical)
• Bagnall Associates (1953) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Kino Video (1998) (USA) (VHS)
• Kino Video (2002) (USA) (DVD)
• Kinowelt Home Entertainment (2007) (Germany) (DVD)
• Synimex (1950) (France) (theatrical)

Also Known As:

Personal Column (UK)

Runtime:

102 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Finland:K-16 | USA:Approved (PCA #12267)

Company:

Hunt Stromberg Productions

Trivia:

The title was changed to "Personal Column" midway through the original U.S. theatrical release because staff at the Production Code Administration thought the word "lured" sounded too much like "lurid". Director Douglas Sirk felt the title change confused potential audiences and led to the film's box-office failure.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Sandra goes to visit Julian towards the end of the movie, she removes her left glove. After a while, she lies down on the sofa, wearing both gloves again.

Movie Connections:

Version of Pièges (1939)

Soundtrack:

Symphony No. 8 in B minor (Unfinished)

Lured is not very lurid

For a serial killer film, this one must rank as the most reserved and dignified ever made. No blood nor gore, just urbane and sophisticated dialogue throughout, and especially from the killer, plus a bit of very enjoyable George Sanders-Lucille Ball romantic wit. Perhaps all victims die without bleeding/suffering/discomfort in meddy old England? "In England, we musn't dirty our hands while killing, musn't we?" But, that was typical of the bloodless killings of crime movies of that time.

George Sanders as a good guy was a total waste here. He is at his best as a witty, sarcastic and selfish cad, which he was somewhat at the start but then soon lost his lust and fell hard for Ms Ball, at which time he lost my interest as he became just another central casting rich guy in love. Unfortunate decision by the studio, as he would have been much better using more of his well known crackling wit.

As a result, Charles Coburn and Cedric Hardwicke were the best things in this film, after the radiant and gorgeous Lucille Ball. Coburn had most of the best dialogue, and came off as a brilliant mix of the philosophical and practical. The methodical way he discovered the killer was a bit long in coming, but interestingly effective overall.

The film needed editing and story tightening to eliminate a lot of the too-long and languid story development dragginess that held it back from being one of the better mystery flicks I've seen over the years. I still give it a 7 out of 10, mainly for quality of dialogue and acting.