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In a Lonely Place

Play trailer Poster for In a Lonely Place Released May 17, 1950 1h 31m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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96% Tomatometer 53 Reviews 89% Popcornmeter 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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Critics Reviews

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Edward Porter 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 Full Review 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 Full Review 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 Full Review 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 Full Review 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 Full Review 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 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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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 Full Review 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 Full Review 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 Full Review 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 Full Review 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 Full Review 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 Full Review Read all reviews
In a Lonely Place

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Cast & Crew

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Movie Info

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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