Copyright 27 October 1947 by Pathe Industries, Inc. A Bryan Foy Production for Eagle Lion Films, Inc. Produced at the studios of Eagle Lion Films, Hollywood, California. No New York release. U.S. release: 11 October 1947. Australian release through British Empire Films: 6 January 1949. Sydney release at the Lyceum: 3 December 1948. 7,895 feet. 87½ minutes.
SYNOPSIS: Two feuding neighbors, a dog, a wife, a girlfriend, a couple of spinster busybodies and a "body".
COMMENT: If it were not for Vera Caspary's name on the credits, no way would this strained, minor disappearing-body "comedy" make anyone's list of preferred films of the forties. Evidently the lady decided to try her hand at a comedy, a crime spoof. Unfortunately, Out of the Blue does not exploit a vein of caustic wit or sharp satire (cf. Laura), but is at best a mildly amusing domestic farce centering upon henpecked George Brent's efforts to rid his apartment of (a) the neighbor's dog; and (b) a rumpot interior decorator.
Fortunately, the rumpot is played by that very talented actress Ann Dvorak. Beautifully timed, her performance has just the right touch of nuttiness. Though she is fighting a constant battle against a script that lacks genuine wit or sparkle, she wins narrowly on points. Leigh Jason's lackluster direction is only intermittently helpful - in fact, its deft moments could be counted on the fingers of one hand: a couple of attractive high angle shots of the balconies; a whip pan from one balcony to the other; and most telling of all, an iris into Miss Dvorak registering Brent's surprise at finding her back in his apartment.
Brent himself tries awfully hard, but he is palpably miscast. Only someone with the quiet imbecility and weak-willed lack-of-authority of a Jimmy Stewart or preferably a Gary Cooper could have carried it off. Brent never approaches gaining audience sympathy, and his efforts to make up in screeching and sniggering what the dialogue so obviously lacks in flair are doomed to failure. And as for Turhan Bey (pronounced "two ron bay") ... As a villain he's okay, but as a leading man for Virginia Mayo, distinctly second-rate.
Virginia is not kindly treated by the ponderous direction either, and the flat photography does little justice to either her beautiful face or costumes.
Another victim of miscasting is Carole Landis who - would you believe? - is cast as a frump, neatness-neurotic housewife!
The film often has the appearance of a photographed stage play and was obviously lensed on a very moderate "A" budget.
All current TV prints have been duped from a worn projection print - in good condition aside from a few jumps at reel changes and the fact that someone has souvenired the Hadda Brooks song, "Out of the Blue". Running time is around 83 minutes.
SYNOPSIS: Two feuding neighbors, a dog, a wife, a girlfriend, a couple of spinster busybodies and a "body".
COMMENT: If it were not for Vera Caspary's name on the credits, no way would this strained, minor disappearing-body "comedy" make anyone's list of preferred films of the forties. Evidently the lady decided to try her hand at a comedy, a crime spoof. Unfortunately, Out of the Blue does not exploit a vein of caustic wit or sharp satire (cf. Laura), but is at best a mildly amusing domestic farce centering upon henpecked George Brent's efforts to rid his apartment of (a) the neighbor's dog; and (b) a rumpot interior decorator.
Fortunately, the rumpot is played by that very talented actress Ann Dvorak. Beautifully timed, her performance has just the right touch of nuttiness. Though she is fighting a constant battle against a script that lacks genuine wit or sparkle, she wins narrowly on points. Leigh Jason's lackluster direction is only intermittently helpful - in fact, its deft moments could be counted on the fingers of one hand: a couple of attractive high angle shots of the balconies; a whip pan from one balcony to the other; and most telling of all, an iris into Miss Dvorak registering Brent's surprise at finding her back in his apartment.
Brent himself tries awfully hard, but he is palpably miscast. Only someone with the quiet imbecility and weak-willed lack-of-authority of a Jimmy Stewart or preferably a Gary Cooper could have carried it off. Brent never approaches gaining audience sympathy, and his efforts to make up in screeching and sniggering what the dialogue so obviously lacks in flair are doomed to failure. And as for Turhan Bey (pronounced "two ron bay") ... As a villain he's okay, but as a leading man for Virginia Mayo, distinctly second-rate.
Virginia is not kindly treated by the ponderous direction either, and the flat photography does little justice to either her beautiful face or costumes.
Another victim of miscasting is Carole Landis who - would you believe? - is cast as a frump, neatness-neurotic housewife!
The film often has the appearance of a photographed stage play and was obviously lensed on a very moderate "A" budget.
All current TV prints have been duped from a worn projection print - in good condition aside from a few jumps at reel changes and the fact that someone has souvenired the Hadda Brooks song, "Out of the Blue". Running time is around 83 minutes.