IMDb RATING
7.2/10
5.8K
YOUR RATING
A devoted secretary risks her life to try to find the elusive woman who may prove her boss didn't murder his selfish wife.A devoted secretary risks her life to try to find the elusive woman who may prove her boss didn't murder his selfish wife.A devoted secretary risks her life to try to find the elusive woman who may prove her boss didn't murder his selfish wife.
Aurora Miranda
- Estela Monteiro
- (as Aurora)
Harry Adams
- Courtroom Spectator
- (uncredited)
Robert Bain
- Guitarist
- (uncredited)
Joan Bayley
- Dancer
- (uncredited)
Brandon Beach
- Theatre Party Guest
- (uncredited)
Brooks Benedict
- Theatre Party Guest
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaAlthough Franchot Tone is given top billing in this film, he does not appear for the first 45 minutes.
- GoofsEarly in the film, the character Scott Henderson is found guilty of second-degree murder and condemned to death. In New York in the 1940s, the jury would have to find him guilty of first-degree murder in order to condemn him to death.
- Quotes
Cliff: You and I are going to have fun tonight, Jeannie! You like jive?
Carol Richman: You bet! I'm a hep kitten!
- ConnectionsFeatured in CSI: Crime Scene Investigation: A Night at the Movies (2003)
- SoundtracksI'll Remember April
(uncredited)
Music by Gene de Paul
Lyrics by Patricia Johnston & Don Raye
[played during opening credits and throughout the movie]
Featured review
Testing the Limits
So how did the producers get that orgasmic release scene past the censors. Sure, Carol (Raines) and Cliff (Cook) are about ten feet apart as he pounds on the drums while she sways back and forth in total sync, their faces contorted in frenzied delight. There's no guesswork here. It's as close to the real thing as the decade gets, and a masterpiece of simulated ecstasy. I wonder what the set was like while filming this.
The movie's a tight little thriller, helmed by noir master Robert Siodmak. So who is it that's framing architect Henderson (Curtis) for his wife's murder. By golly, the lovelorn Carol is going to find out even if it leads her down every dark, scary street on the studio lot. And once she dons her cheap hep-cat outfit, that's just where she's headed. But it's that frenzied jazz scene with Cliff that steals the show. Everything after seems something of an anti-climax. However, be sure to catch that beautifully modulated scene where Carol plies the emotionally disturbed Ann (Helm) for access to the incriminating ladies' hat. It's poignantly done, especially by actress Helm.
No doubt, this is one of the noir highpoints of the period, with dark symbolism and atmospheric shadows aplenty. Also, Raines gives a winning performance as the unstoppable Carol, while Tone wisely refuses to go over the top as the psychopath. On the other hand, it's a good thing we don't see much of Curtis in both a badly written and dimly performed part. I'm guessing Siodmak cared little how that particularly conventional role came across. Anyway, for fans of 40's noir, this Universal programmer remains a must-see.
The movie's a tight little thriller, helmed by noir master Robert Siodmak. So who is it that's framing architect Henderson (Curtis) for his wife's murder. By golly, the lovelorn Carol is going to find out even if it leads her down every dark, scary street on the studio lot. And once she dons her cheap hep-cat outfit, that's just where she's headed. But it's that frenzied jazz scene with Cliff that steals the show. Everything after seems something of an anti-climax. However, be sure to catch that beautifully modulated scene where Carol plies the emotionally disturbed Ann (Helm) for access to the incriminating ladies' hat. It's poignantly done, especially by actress Helm.
No doubt, this is one of the noir highpoints of the period, with dark symbolism and atmospheric shadows aplenty. Also, Raines gives a winning performance as the unstoppable Carol, while Tone wisely refuses to go over the top as the psychopath. On the other hand, it's a good thing we don't see much of Curtis in both a badly written and dimly performed part. I'm guessing Siodmak cared little how that particularly conventional role came across. Anyway, for fans of 40's noir, this Universal programmer remains a must-see.
helpful•284
- dougdoepke
- Jul 3, 2011
- How long is Phantom Lady?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Languages
- Also known as
- Condemned to Hang
- Filming locations
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime1 hour 27 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1
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