In a Lonely Place

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In a Lonely Place

Released May 17, 1950

1h 31m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

96%

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53 Reviews

89%

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5,000+ Ratings

Hollywood screenwriter Dixon Steele (Humphrey Bogart) and his neighbor Laurel (Gloria Grahame) are just getting to know each other romantically when the police begin questioning Dixon about his involvement in the murder of a girl he met once. Certain her new love interest is innocent, Laurel stands by Dixon, but as the police continue pressing him, Dixon begins to act increasingly erratically. The blossoming love affair suffers as Laurel begins to wonder if Dixon really might be a killer.

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Critics Consensus

Led by extraordinary performances from Humphrey Bogart and Gloria Grahame, In a Lonely Place is a gripping noir of uncommon depth and maturity.

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Edward Porter

The Times (UK)

There is lyricism in this melodrama but it comes strictly in a pessimistic film-noir style: the movie's faith in the power of love is remarkably limited.

Aug 29, 2022

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Ela Bittencourt

Hyperallergic

In a Lonely Place isn't so much a straightforward thriller as it is a poignant psychological study of a person and a milieu, veiled as an atmospheric noir.

Feb 25, 2020

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Peter Bradshaw

Guardian

Humphrey Bogart's world-weariness and romanticism take on something brutal and misogynist in this 1950 noir masterpiece directed by Nicholas Ray - and it's a marvellous performance by Gloria Grahame.

Rated: 5/5

Nov 22, 2017

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Daniel Barnes

Dare Daniel

The jaded and cynical flipside to the lovingly ecstatic portrait of Hollywood mythmaking offered by Singin’ in the Rain, Nicholas Ray’s is a bleak yet sensual film noir that refuses to indulge in any cliched genre trappings.

Rated: 5/5

Sep 22, 2024

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Jeremy Carr

Vague Visages

In a Lonely Place finds Nicholas Ray still the relative newcomer to the Hollywood studio scene, yet he is already displaying subversive evidence of instilling in his work representative preoccupations.

Nov 15, 2023

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Sean Axmaker

Stream on Demand

This is film noir without guns and gangsters, with no robberies or blackmail schemes, where the only crime on screen is a couple of alcohol-fueled assault... and yet it is among the most devastating noir dramas you’ll ever see.

Apr 14, 2023

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Leo P

This lame version of Jekyll and Hyde lacks, besides hairy hands, any mystery about the modus operandi. From the very start Bogie keeps on hitting people in their faces,and then begs for forgiveness.It seems that the text put in the mouths of protagonists is entirely from another movie.Movie like Romeo and Juliet:" I was born when I kissed you,I died when you left me, etc..."

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

10/15/24

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Rare T

Though initially promising a plot it doesn't eventually deliver, In a Lonely Place makes up for it in other areas, including the thriller elements, the (incomplete) romance, the dialogue, the ending, and most importantly, the subplot that delves into the psyche of the protagonist, who is also portrayed as imperfect, and not so much a hero as the viewer would generally want him to be. The direction and performances add the cherry on top of this many-layered noir cake.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

09/10/24

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Audience Member

Gloria Grahame as Laurel Gray would have been better off if Bogie had been the killer. What a douche.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

07/25/24

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Ron B

Stilted script, stiff acting, no attempt at verisimilitude. Hard to understand the accolades. Loved the late 40's look, though.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

05/27/24

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nick s

Not the thriller I was expecting, but a wonderful nuanced screenplay. The acting was superb, as is to be expected from two of the greats. There was a patch in the middle of the movie where it seemed like the director was drifting from the plot, but he was actually setting up the sumptuous ending.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/19/24

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Mike F

Bogart is brilliant in this murder mystery thriller and well complemented by Grahame, who garnered the attention of Hollywood for this performance.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

11/19/23

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Nicholas Ray

Director

Humphrey Bogart

Dixon Steele

Gloria Grahame

Laurel Gray

Frank Lovejoy

Det. Sgt. Brub Nicolai

Carl Benton Reid

Capt. Lochner

Art Smith

Mel Lippman

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Synopsis

Hollywood screenwriter Dixon Steele (Humphrey Bogart) and his neighbor Laurel (Gloria Grahame) are just getting to know each other romantically when the police begin questioning Dixon about his involvement in the murder of a girl he met once. Certain her new love interest is innocent, Laurel stands by Dixon, but as the police continue pressing him, Dixon begins to act increasingly erratically. The blossoming love affair suffers as Laurel begins to wonder if Dixon really might be a killer.

Director: Nicholas Ray
Producer: Robert Lord
Screenwriter: Dorothy B. Hughes, Edmund H. North, Andrew Solt
Distributor: Columbia Pictures
Production Co: Columbia Pictures Corporation
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): May 17, 1950, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 25, 2014
Runtime: 1h 31m
Sound Mix: Mono
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.37:1), 35mm

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