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Alfred Hitchcock: "Cary Grant is the only actor I ever loved in my whole life."
Billy Wilder: "Happiness is working with Jack Lemmon."
Stanley Kubrick: "There are very few directors, about whom you'd say you automatically have to see everything they do. I'd put Fellini, Bergman and David Lean at the head of my first list, and Truffaut at the head of the next level."
William Friedkin: “Just watch the films of Alfred Hitchcock. That’s all you need to know about how to make films. It’s what I did.”
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Master Minds (2020)
Beauty, The Beast, And A Bevy Of Brains
This fast paced trivia contest is one of the best in this genre. Hosted by the beautiful and talented Brooke Burns, the show has three contestants vie against each other while three trivia experts simultaneously compete against each other.
The two highest scoring contestants face off to determine who wins $1,000 and the chance to play against the highest scoring expert. The final competition pits the contestant against the expert for $10,000.
One thing that makes this so watchable is the way they switch up the game play each round. Also, the questions are both challenging and interesting.
The experts are unquestioningly among the best. Any contestant who wins the $10,000 has accomplished something noteworthy.
The Trouble with Bliss (2011)
Less Is More, But Morris Bliss
I confess that I disliked the beginning of this film, but as it progressed I bought into its odd narrative about a thirty-five-year-old New York City man who appears to be a loser.
Morris Bliss (Michael C. Hall) lives in his father's (Peter Fonda) apartment and has no job prospects. It appears that his life is on hold. He seems to have no convictions. And he is seeing an eighteen-year-old high school student.
During a week filled with coincidences and strange happenings, Morris gradually gains agency and makes decisions. He may finally be on the path to responsible adulthood.
Brie Larson plays the quirky high school student, Stephanie, who is unpredictable and challenging. Because Morris exudes little energy, it is Stephanie who moves the plot. But there are other strange friends and acquaintances who interact with Morris, like fellow tenant Andrea (Lucy Liu) whose intentions are unclear. And Steven "Axe" Jouseski (Brad William Henke), who still revels in the "glory" of their wild high school days.
The film definitely has a sense of humor, which emerges more in the second half. I found myself being drawn into the quirky universe of Bliss. It is not a world of big laughs, but droll absurdity and irony.
Beyond the Blackboard (2011)
A Pocket Full Of Valentines
Films about education and the stories of extraordinary teachers is a genre I really enjoy. I have seen many such films, some of them based on true stories, like this one. "Beyond the Blackboard" contains many touching moments, and it is a reminder that it may "take a village", but special things can be accomplished by special people.
This film demonstrates that good writing, good direction, and good acting are a winning combination. Emily VanCamp is perfect as the neophyte teacher, Stacey Bess, who naively walks into a horrible situation, but fights through it. The rest of the cast is solid, anchored by the child actors who make up Stacey's class; they make it so easy to cheer for their characters and to ache for them in their situations.
Have some tissues nearby.
Take the Lead (2006)
Some Wonderful Moments
Inspired by a true story, "Take the Lead" is the story of Pierre Dulaine (Antonio Banderas), a ballroom dance instructor who sees an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of inner city New York high school students who are considered rejects.
Other films have similar stories, and some of them are exceptional. The two that come to mind most when watching "Take the Lead" are "To Sir With Love" and "Stand and Deliver", which was also based on a true story.
Banderas is strong in a difficult role. The group of younger actors who play the students is wonderful. Alfre Woodard is memorable as the principal of the school, who still maintains a shred of hope even with the formidable odds against her.
The dancing itself is adequate. The music is varied. But the primary actors are what make this film so enjoyable.
(500) Days of Summer (2009)
"What Are We Doing?"
This story follows a relationship between Tom (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) and Summer (Zooey Deschanel), which begins on the first day she joins the greeting card firm where Tom works. That is Day 1. He falls for her quickly. She likes him, but does not believe in love. As they get closer, things get more confusing for him.
This film is told from Tom's view. We meet his friends and his sister, Rachel ( Chloe Grace Moretz), all of whom give him advice along the way. The narrative is not chronological, making connections between events that happen on non-contiguous days.
Though the story is told through Tom's eyes, the tone of the film is dictated by Summer's personality. She is quirky and low-key. Perhaps if another actress had played the role (say, Mila Kunis), the film would have a different energy.
Also influencing the energy are the pop songs interspersed. And the script includes moments of fantasy---like montages, daydreams, and fictional film clips---that provide clues to Tom's frame of mind.
In the end, this is a film about love and fate. Some viewers may find it hopeful, while others may consider it discouraging.
The Benny Goodman Story (1956)
A Swing Showpiece
Benny Goodman is my favorite musician from the big band era. It is a real pleasure to see the erudite-but-hip Steve Allen portray the prodigiously talented jazzman in this film.
Goodman himself provides the clarinet tracks that Allen mimes. And if you like swing music, this film has it, as well as some of the other greats of the genre, portraying themselves---like Gene Krupa, Stan Getz, Lionel Hampton, and Harry James.
Though the story is heavily fictionalized, it does a good job of capturing the energy of a revolution in musical style.
Also, Donna Reed is charming as Goodman's wife, Alice.
13 Going on 30 (2004)
Jennifer Garner Delivers A Delightful Performance
We have seen numerous films about someone trapped in the body of someone a different age. Usually, there is a metaphysical reason for the phenomenon, and this film sticks to that trope.
Here, Jennifer Garner plays the part of Jenna Rink, a girl who has just reached her thirteenth birthday, when she is mystically transported into the thirty-year-old body of her future self. What makes this film a standout is the effectiveness of Garner's portrayal. She imbues her 30-year-old character with the youthful exuberance and innocence of a thirteen-year-old so believably.
She doesn't just gain 17 years, she moves forward in time. This places her anachronistically at a point in time where she is ignorant of the culture and its technologies. And she is a girl in a woman's body, trying to cope with a job and all the circumstances of her older life.
Near the end of the film, there is a great plot twist that introduces conflict to the narrative and helps determine the course of her life. It's a nice story, but it is Garner's performance that makes this a film to watch.
United 93 (2006)
A Story of 9-11
Last week I visited the Fight 93 Memorial near Shanksville, Pennsylvania. It is appropriately solemn and informative, though I was already fairly familiar with the particulars of the flight.
This film, with the approval of many family members of the flight's victims, does a good job of taking you inside the events of that day, including the moment-to-moment activities of air traffic control and the U. S. military. There is more the film makers could have included, but the film captures the confusion, the tragedy, and the bravery of that day. Even though you know what is going to happen, it grabs you with suspense.
No one living knows the full particulars of what happened aboard Flight 93, so some dramatization is necessary. Still, it conforms with known facts, and presents an unbiased story, which is appreciated.
Room for One More (1952)
Watch For The Few Touching Moments
Cary Grant stars with his wife, Betsy Drake, in this light comedy about a family that thrives on chaos even as it expands to include homeless animals and unwanted children. Drake plays wife Anna Rose, whose heart is bigger than the family budget---a woman who cannot say "no" to any being needing love. She often surprises her husband with the newest addition to the family. They agree to foster a teen with a horrible history who is rough around the edges, and a polio-stricken boy with a terrible demeanor.
Expect few surprises, and much of the humor is quite corny, but there are some genuinely touching moments. The biggest problem with the script is that George "Poppy" Rose (Grant) constantly cracks jokes but wifey Ann has virtually no sense of humor. Also, she makes some decisions that are, when rationally analyzed, dangerous or unjudicious.
This is not one of Grant's best films; he has so many that are truly worth watching.
Lucky 13 (2024)
Moderately interesting
In this quiz show, contestants are shown thirteen statements and they must answer if they are true or false. Then they guess how many of their answers are correct. If the number of correct answers falls within a range they select, they win. If they hit the exact number they predicted, they win even more. The top prize is $1 million, but that requires correct answers to all thirteen questions.
The hosts are Gina Rodriquez and Shaquille O'Neal. It is an unusual pairing, but they keep things light.
The difficulty of the questions seems about right: not too easy or too hard. But the goal is to predict the number of your correct answers. It should be pointed out that correctly answering 7-9 questions is about the same as randomly answering 13 true/false questions. Receiving $25,000 for that unexceptional accomplishment is not a bad payday.
Listening to some contestants verbalize how they arrive at their answers can be unintentionally humorous. That should not be a surprise if you have watched some Youtube videos where they ask people on the street questions about history or other subjects.
Interestingly enough, guessing the correct range is harder when the questions are true/false. For example, if asked the number of dimples on a golf ball, one could make an intentionally bad guess, say one million, and thereby make the results more predictable, but in a true/false scenario there is more unpredictability. If, for example, the statement is "golf balls have exactly 250 dimples", neither "true" nor "false" is so obviously wrong.
This show does not have the pace or the level of interest that games like "Jeopardy!" can provide, but it has some appeal, and one can learn some things from watching.
My Favorite Wife (1940)
A Successful Reteaming
One of the great screwball comedies is "The Awful Truth". Here, Cary Grant and Irene Dunne are reteamed for another enjoyable comedy with a strange premise.
Nick (Grant) must have his deceased wife proclaimed legally dead before he can wed his fiancée (Gail Patrick), so they go to court for both procedures. Just as they are off to Yosemite for a honeymoon stay, Ellen (Dunne), the missing wife, returns to reclaim her life.
So, the strange romantic triangle must be resolved, but it won't be easy. Thanks to Donald MacBride, who plays a confused hotel clerk at Yosemite, the hotel scenes are some of the funniest.
Randolph Scott is perfect as the hunky health nut who shared an island with Ellen during the seven years of her absence.
There are two aspects of "My Favorite Wife" that are very reminiscent of "The Awful Truth": in both, Dunne pretends to be someone she isn't to hilarious effect, and both films have scenes where the two main characters are in separate bedrooms.
For my money, Dunne steals the film, but both of the leads convincingly portray spouses who know each other intimately.
While watching, note the eye-catching fashions that Ms. Dunne sports.
Father Goose (1964)
Grant Plays Against Type
This is an interesting film. First of all, it combines comedy with adventure and romance. Secondly, Cary Grant plays a role that is a departure from what he usually does.
Here, he plays the part of Walter, a loner who has escaped all conventional life to live in the Pacific. When British forces prepare to abandon an island to the Japanese, a clever harbor master ropes Walter into joining the Coast Watching Service, a group of thirty-two who will remain among the hundreds of islands to spot and report the movements of Japanese aircraft. After he establishes his post on the island of Matalava, he runs into a stranded French woman named Catherine (Leslie Caron) who has custody of seven girls who were attending a school for the children of consular employees.
They have to share a small space and few resources, which leads to conflict. And some laughs.
The exteriors were shot at Ocho Rios, Jamaica. Too bad they didn't include shots of the wonderful falls there, which are very picturesque.
Grant and Caron work well together, but I must admit it would have been interesting to see Audrey Hepburn in the role of Catherine. The romantic aspects of the film are brief and more chaste than a nursery rhyme. This is no "Swept Away". But it works fairly well.
Knowing (2009)
Wishing I Didn't Know
This film is one of the best examples of the necessity for a strong story. It has a lot going for it, including some impressive special effects, but the story is so flawed it crumbles under the load of its many defects.
Nicolas Cage plays the part of John Koestler, a widower who teaches astrophysics at MIT. He has distanced himself from most of his family, but he secures emotional sustenance from his students and his young son. Still, he lingers over the memories of his deceased wife, as does his son.
When a page of seemingly random numbers comes into his life, he almost immediately finds a hidden meaning. He cracks the code and it sets off a hunt for deeper meanings. It also brings elements of danger into their lives. The over-riding mystery has to do with the cause behind it all. The viewer is given plenty of chances to take an exit to the most reasonable explanations as the options grow more and more improbable. Eventually, it seems that only the most impossible of all explanations can solve the conundrum that has overtaken John's life.
Unfortunately, the story is filled with plot holes and convenient coincidences---so that many viewers will feel betrayed, especially when the final riddle is solved and the viewer is left with a "reality" that is deux ex machina in the extreme, to the point of being amateurish.
Summer Holiday (1948)
Small Town Dramas
This musical adaptation of Eugene O'Neill's "Ah, Wilderness!" takes place in the town of Dannville, where the senior class is about to move on with their lives, the fireworks are ready for the celebration of the Fourth, and class valedictorian Richard Miller (Mickey Rooney) is dealing with affairs of the heart.
The film begins with music-a sing-song introduction of the characters-which leads to the high school graduation ceremony, full of school spirit and traditional values.
Richard has his eye on Muriel McComber (Gloria DeHaven). Uncle Sid (Frank Morgan) has his eye on Cousin Lily (Agnes Moorehead), who spurns his attentions due to his love of the bottle.
This is a story of a family, a town, a way of life, and America itself. It is a reaffirmation of small-town values. This film comes on the heels of the Hardy Family series and, in many ways, mirrors those stories.
Dannville, surprisingly, has a dark side. Richard finds himself at the Dannville Saloon, where singer and temptress Belle (Marilyn Maxwell) threatens to educate him in the ways of sin. She delivers a strong performance that is captured in beautiful close-up.
This may be an uneven production, but it has many moments worthy of being watched.
Reality Bites (1994)
Life After College
This is Ben Stiller's big-screen directorial debut.
You don't have to like the characters in a film, but it helps. Here we have a group of Gen Xers who have "no role models or heroes." That is not an exciting place to start from, because there are role models everywhere for anyone who bothers to look. The tone that pervades in this film is a kind of nihilism. One can understand the disappointment of dreams unfulfilled, of tough job markets, of friends letting you down. But being too cool to care is not a good look.
The main character, Lelaina (Winona Ryder), is the valedictorian of her university class. She videos her friends and considers that a hobby which she might make into a vocation. Like most of her friends, she has an affinity for bad boys. Her best friend, Troy (Ethan Hawke), is unreliable, sarcastic to the point of being annoying, and a slacker. Vickie (Janeane Garofalo), her roommate, keeps a list of the guys she sleeps with (then ghosts).
The older adults in the film are vapid or hateful.
Troy, by the way, is very intelligent. Comparisons to (Good) Will Hunting come to mind, but Will has agency. Troy drifts. Will has intelligent conversations, sometimes, that mean something. Troy has sarcasm masquerading as conversation. In general, "Reality Bites" lacks the dialogue (conversations) that motivate and explain meaningful character changes, unlike other films perceived as generational, like "The Breakfast Club".
To sum up, this film does little to entertain or inspire. If it has a moral, it might be "surround yourself with people you would like to emulate", but I don't think the filmmakers recognized that concept.
For the average person, life has its tough moments. This film recognizes that, but it does not do much with that knowledge. It does, however, contain plenty of pop culture references, which can be fun to recognize.
In Person (1935)
No Phenom This Rom-com
This simple rom-com has to do with a popular actress, Carol Corliss (Ginger Rogers), who has been traumatized by overworking and an unruly mob, and so goes out in public in disguise. Her psychiatrist is trying to overcome her agoraphobia by gradually exposing her to the outside world. When she meets Emory Muir (George Brent) by happenstance, and overhears that he is taking a vacation at a remote cabin, she asks him to take her along. He agrees, not knowing of her stardom.
When they get to the cabin, he treats her indifferently, even when he discovers her true identity. Though she resists at first, she falls into a domesticity, obviously concerned about his feelings toward her. The romance hinges on believing that there is a spark between them, but there is little heat on the screen. Later, when they return to "civilization", they are forced to confront their feelings.
Ginger sings three songs and dances within the context of her stardom, but the core of the film is her portrayal of the non-star, when she uses the pseudonym Clara Colfax. There is a wackiness to the storyline that suggests screwball, but it never really rises to that level.
For my money, the best part of the film is her final song and dance, which is part of a film within the film. And it's not even a great song. There is the glamour that she exudes with virtually every film with Astaire.
As for George Brent, his character deprives him of any real chance to be adorable or dashing. He does a fine job, but one wonders how much difference it would make if the role were in the hands of someone like Astaire or even Jack Carson.
The Notebook (2004)
Dreams Of Summer Long Ago
Duke (James Garner) and Allie (Gena Rowlands) live in a home for patients with special needs. She suffers with advanced dementia and does not want to leave her room. When he begins reading to her, it distracts her from her situation, and she becomes engaged in the story.
The story is about the beginnings of a tempestuous relationship between a young lumberyard worker (Ryan Gosling as Noah) and a teenager (Rachel McAdams as Allie) who come from different sides of the tracks. It is 1940 and her wealthy family is spending the summer in Charleston. They talk about her life-long plans to attend college at one of the Seven Sisters. But when Noah enters her life, they wonder if it is merely a summer romance or a real threat to their aspirations.
The film starts a little slowly, but director Nick Cassavetes competently guides this romantic drama as it gains momentum. His mother, Gena, and James Garner provide a tender but tough representation of the heartbreak of dementia. Gosling and McAdams are believable as a tragic couple whose attraction seems fated by the stars, but doomed to fail. The photography is beautiful, as are the South Carolina locations.
The film's big surprise is not so surprising, but the ending still jerks the tears.
The Shop Around the Corner (1940)
Romance And The Shopworkers
Directed by Ernst Lubitsch, who called this his best film, this is the story of a romance against the backdrop of a Budapest gift shop. It is an inspired retelling of a play, and the basis for other versions on film and stage.
Lubitsch, who was Billy Wilder's inspiration, is coming off his brilliant "Ninotchka". Here, he gives us a subtle mixture of drama and comedy that somehow works. Technically, I enjoy his camerawork.
James Stewart and Margaret Sullavan star as Alfred Kralik and Klara Novak, who work on the sales staff of Matuschek's, owned by Hugo Matuschek (Frank Morgan). It is the Christmas season, and Mr. Matuschek is worried, as always, that his staff may not be giving their all, or that the competition is outperforming his little store. The pressures of the job are alleviated somewhat for Kralik and Novak, who are each involved in a budding romance by correspondence. Each of them is smitten by the florid phrases and noble-sounding philosophies of his or her amor de plume.
Stewart and Sullavan are surrounded by a wonderful cast. Every actor in the cast has moments of brilliance. And it seems like every part was perfectly cast.
This is nominally a Christmas film, but other versions have emphasized that aspect more. A musical version starring Judy Garland and Van Johnson was released in 1949. It is a lighter, more comedic version, and I prefer it slightly.
All the Brothers Were Valiant (1953)
"Promises Were Made To Be Broken"
This film is an adaptation of a novel. I have not read it, but it seems like a story of big action and big themes. It can be difficult to put such a story on film, but the filmmakers did a decent job of it.
It all begins when whaling captain Joel Shore returns home to New Bedford, after a lengthy expedition. He finds that Priscilla Holt (Ann Blyth) has grown into young womanhood, and he asks her to marry him before he takes to the sea again. She agrees, despite the fact that Joel might be gone for two or three years. He surprises her by refitting the captain's quarters of the Nathan Ross so that she can go with him. And they set to sea, where she learns about whaling and the dangers of sea life. Everything changes when they discover that Joel's older brother, Mark (Stewart Granger), who used to captain the Nathan Ross, is alive.
Much of the film consists of flashbacks of Mark's story. And then it picks up with Joel, Mark, and Priscilla back on the water, where complicated passions and differing purposes are dealt with. The ninety-five minutes of running time are filled to the brim with conflict and adventure, including a fight scene that is very worthy of the genre.
The acting, across the board, is good. Granger has the meatiest part, and he takes advantage of it. Watch for Lewis Stone in his last film appearance. And Keenan Wynn and James Whitmore, who tackle musical comedy in "Kiss Me Kate", soon after their appearance here.
Girl Happy (1965)
Poolside Romance And Rock And Roll
This Elvis musical follows the formula of his other films: music, girls, and fights. Here he plays Rusty Wells, a singer who travels to Ft. Lauderdale with his band on spring break. Big Frank (Harold J. Stone), the owner of the Chicago club where he performs, pays him to monitor the activities of his daughter, Valerie (Shelley Fabares), who is also headed to the Mecca of teen spring beach parties.
Also staying at their hotel is the curvaceous Deena (Mary Ann Mobley, who was Miss America 1959). She turns Rusty's head, and he ping-pongs between the two girls, until he finally decides which one should get all his attention.
This is the first of three films Elvis made with Fabares. Because of her role in TV's "The Donna Reed Show" and her prior release of a successful record, she was almost the distaff equivalent of Ricky Nelson. In this film, she shows herself to be a trooper, playing the good girl, but also the girl breaking out, including some dance moves reminiscent of Ann-Margret.
Elvis gets to sing plenty of songs, but none of them are hits. Because this film was released not long after the Beatles upended the American charts and scored with "A Hard Day's Night", Rusty's 4-man group is primarily seen with three guitars and a drum set. But these films fail to capture the ingenuity and excitement of the Beatles.
Watch for Jackie Coogan as a police sergeant. He is better known for "The Addams Family" and his work as a child star.
The Bachelor Father (1931)
A Lightweight Comedy
Baron Winterton (C. Aubrey Smith) decides to locate this three estranged children and invite them to live on his estate. He sends an aide to the United States to contact Tony Flagg (Marion Davies), daughter of a dancer now deceased, who is thrilled to come. When the three siblings arrive, they strike up a friendship. Now living in the lap of luxury, it is a "fish out of water" situation for the three---especially Tony, who is something of a wild child. Still, the Baron learns to loosen up and allow himself the enjoyment of their company. However, a complication arises that may jeopardize their newly-created family.
This is definitely a pre-Code film, considering that the three children were born out of wedlock. The Hays office mandated some changes in the script, but still there is ambiguity about the relationships that produced the Baron's progeny.
The story is play-based, and it shows. Also, the humor is not very subtle. Still, it is a cute film, and it is easy to like the characters.
Watch for Ray Milland, who is nearly unrecognizable as one of the three siblings.
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
Charging Down The Rabbit Hole
It is always nice to watch Jim Carrey in a serious role. Here, he plays the part of Joel, who decides, on a whim, to skip work and take the train to Montauk. But wait. Is it really a whim? When he meets an interesting woman named Clementine (Kate Winslet), is it really chance?
Writer Charlie Kaufman has given us a story that challenges the viewer. The story is nonlinear. It plays with reality. Much of the action takes place in the brain of a character. In short, this is a very imaginative script. The wonder is that it remains coherent, if challenging.
Carrey and Winslet prove once again that they are dramatic chameleons. And we don't have to like everything about their characters to identify with them. We just know they feel authentic, they fit within this unusual narrative, and we want to follow them down the rabbit hole of the film's reality, even as it morphs and doubles back on itself.
It is a blessing to have creators who can take us on such creative journeys, where we confront ourselves and see the world as never before.
The Out of Towners (1970)
Oh My God, George!
Comedy is when something bad happens to someone else. At least that is one theory of humor. But there is certainly no arguing with Neil Simon when it comes to comedy. He wrote this one for the big screen, and it is all about misfortune.
George and Gwen Kellerman (Jack Lemmon and Sandy Dennis) travel from their home in Ohio to New York City so that George can be interviewed for a new, exciting position. He is the type of person who is very particular, so he has the minutiae of their schedule planned. But his schedule is derailed when their plane is put in a holding pattern due to traffic.
That is just the beginning of a domino effect that causes them inconvenience and heartache. Lemmon and Dennis are terrific at playing victims, though their characters handle misfortune in different ways. George, like an accountant, keeps a balance sheet of trespasses that the city inflicts on them. Gwen, the long-suffering wife who always tries to support George, is more pragmatic.
The script is Murphy's Law gone wild. Simon heaps problem on top of problem. And we, as the audience, can enjoy it all from an emotional distance.
To All a Good Night (2023)
Recommended
This is one of the best Hallmark holiday romances. All of the characters are very likable, and the story is well written.
Kimberley Sustad plays the part of Ceci, a photographer who recently lost her father. When a mysterious motorcyclist crashes near her family's property, she goes to his rescue. Mark Ghanime plays Sam, the motorcyclist who ends up in the hospital, wondering who his anonymous benefactor was. As it turns out, this is a story with plenty of mysteries.
Ceci has a ready wit. She spends time with Sam as he recuperates, and they exchange stories about their lives. He finds himself becoming more involved in the community, which helps him overcome some emotional issues. In the end, this film becomes a tearjerker in the best possible way, a life-affirming way. However, there is plenty of humor along the way, and some colorful characters (including a dog) keep things light.
Looking for Mr. Goodbar (1977)
An Obscured Message
Whether it wants to be or not, "Looking for Mr. Goodbar" is a cautionary tale.
It is the story of a teacher of deaf children, Theresa Dunn (Diane Keaton), who feels unfulfilled in her life and longs to become her own person. To that end, she begins cruising bars. She finds expression and freedom in her dalliances, but she seems drawn to men who are enigmatic or rebellious. What is she cruising for? Does she even know?
She seems oblivious to the dangers of her behavior. At the same time, danger has some draw for her. She does eschew any real, emotional connections in her nightly excursions.
Director Richard Brooks is no stranger to drama. And he wrote the screenplay. So it is safe to say the film is an expression of his vision. Whatever message he wished to convey is lost in the final product. Since the story is based on actual events, it may be seen merely as an interpretation of real happenings. The same questions could be asked of "In Cold Blood", which was met with critical acclaim.