Film Noir: The Dark Side of Cinema IX

Lady On A Train (1945)

From her train compartment as she pulls into New York, heiress/whodunit buff Nikki Collins (Deanna Durbin) witnesses a murder through an office building window...and when no body is found, the authorities dismiss her as a kook. Her determined efforts to do her own sleuthing get her mistaken for a nightclub chanteuse--who also happens to be the next on the killer’s hit list. Snappy mystery-comedy co-stars Ralph Bellamy, Dan Duryea, Edward Everett Horton; Deanna gets to sing "Silent Night," "Give Me a Little Kiss, Will Ya Huh?" 94 min. BW/Rtg: NR

Tangier (1946)

Stranded in postwar Morocco, disgraced journalist Paul Kenyon (Robert Paige) wanted the scoop that would recharge his career--and thought he found it when he recognized fugitive Nazi diamond smuggler Adolpho Fernandez (Reginald Denny) across the bar. However, sultry cafe dancer Rita (Maria Montez) had her own reasons for tracking Fernandez...and they'd draw Kenyon into a morass of police corruption and murder. Crisp adventure also stars Sabu, Preston Foster, Louise Albritton, Kent Taylor. 74 min. BW/Rtg: NR

Take One False Step (1949)

In L.A. looking for funding, happily married academic Andrew Gentling (William Powell) knew he should've passed when wartime flame Catherine Sykes (Shelley Winters) suggested a get-together. After the unfortunate but uneventful rendezvous, Catherine went missing--and he had to turn to mutual friend Martha Wier (Marsha Hunt) for help finding out why and in keeping the cops at arm's length. Long-sought noir co-stars Dorothy Hart, James Gleason; keep an eye out for Tony Curtis. 94 min. BW/Rtg: NR

Standard; Soundtrack: English; Subtitles: English; audio commentary; theatrical trailers.