Nice attempt to do a small town, yuletide noir (appropriate that it was made in 1949, perhaps this great genre's premier year). Problem is that it's just not dark enough. I mean, the last third of "It's A Wonderful life" has it beat seven ways to Sunday in the disturbing department. The villain, Mr. Phillips, (who we never see; good touch, that) is said to be a "cancer" on a small, midwestern community but we are given no specific or even general examples of his toxic crimes so that the full evil of this great adversary is never felt. Just contrast this vague stuff with the dirty, greedy, very specific deeds of Potter in "Wonderful Life" and you can see just how pitched to the too sweet end of the holiday film spectrum this thing really is, while purporting to be the opposite.
Still, Dennis O'Keefe (who co wrote the script, under a pseudonym) and William Bendix are good. Their sharp, cynical banter is the best part of the film, for me. And Doro Merande has some amusing throwaway lines as a glum housekeeper (did she ever play anything else?) while Barbara Britton is a welcome reminder that a curvy bod is not a crime at Christmas. C plus.
PS...Love Hank Worden, taking a holiday from Ford, as the village undertaker. His cheery "See you soon!" to O'Keefe's nosey insurance sleuth is my favorite line in the film. Movie needed more black humor like that.
Still, Dennis O'Keefe (who co wrote the script, under a pseudonym) and William Bendix are good. Their sharp, cynical banter is the best part of the film, for me. And Doro Merande has some amusing throwaway lines as a glum housekeeper (did she ever play anything else?) while Barbara Britton is a welcome reminder that a curvy bod is not a crime at Christmas. C plus.
PS...Love Hank Worden, taking a holiday from Ford, as the village undertaker. His cheery "See you soon!" to O'Keefe's nosey insurance sleuth is my favorite line in the film. Movie needed more black humor like that.