Viewed via videostream from Netflix. This movie is from 1955 and represents the type of gem you can find in the streamable library from Netflix. Any fan of film noir will like this one, featuring the Mike Hammer character as a private detective who gets tangled up with a whole lot of trouble when he picks up a woman along the highway who just escaped from a mental institution. The woman is played by none other than Chloris Leachman, who most (older) people will remember from the Rhoda TV show from the 70s as the Phyllis character. It was the first time I had seen her as a young woman, and strangely she seemed perfect for this role. I loved the first half of this movie and liked the second half. I am experiencing the same feelings as I listen to the book The Black Dahlia so maybe it has something to do with getting weary of noirish detail and plot twists. The ending kind of deviates from film noir, almost into science fiction. Regardless, I highly recommend this movie, especially if you like hard-boiled content with snappy dialog.
