The File on Thelma Jordon (1950)

☆ ☆ ☆ ½

The File on Thelma Jordon (1950) – R. Siodmak

Assistant D. A. Cleve Marshall (Wendell Corey) is unhappy in his marriage and meets Thelma Jordon (Barbara Stanwyck) when out on a bender.  She is seeking to report a prowler at her rich aunt’s house to a local private detective (Paul Kelly).  But soon the two fall in love, an obsessive love that takes Marshall away from his wife and kids and into noir territory.  Soon, the aunt is dead with a recently changed will leaving everything to Jordon, now the chief suspect.  Naturally, Marshall is appointed to prosecute the case in court.  We don’t know if Jordon is bad but there are many clues (including a shady “husband” lurking around).  We also don’t know if she really loves Marshall – she may.  Director Robert Siodmak (Phantom Lady, The Killers, and many other great noirs) takes a leisurely approach to the developing relationship, with enough time spent with Marshall’s wife (Joan Tetzel) to feel his guilt.  But of course, viewers can’t help but compare this film to Billy Wilder’s earlier Double Indemnity (1944) in which Stanwyck convinced hapless Fred MacMurray to kill her husband.  Stanwyck is a bit more ambiguous here and you never do know whether Marshall will redeem himself by putting his all into his courtroom appearances or throw the case to help her.  MacMurray never had a chance; moreover, Stanwyck never had a streak of good in her in the earlier film.  Still, in true noir fashion, it only takes one mistake to turn the dark corner.