I’d heard of ALIAS NICK BEAL for some time now. It seemed to always pop up on Turner Classic Movies but I never got around to watching it. Now Kino Lorber has released the film in a cleaned up version and I’m glad I waited. Not only does the movie look great it turned out to be a solid film as well.
Thomas Mitchell (who many will remember from ITS A WONDERFUL LIFE as Uncle Billy as well as numerous other films) takes the lead here. He stars as Joseph Foster, an honest district attorney determined to clean up his city of both criminals and crooked politicians. He helps out with a youth club as well and has the support of many close friends, friends who hope that a victory would help him find himself as the next governor. Foster says he’d do anything to win his next big case, even sell his soul.
As he’s about to take the most notorious criminal to task the evidence he was waiting for is burned to a crisp. With all hope lost he gets a message from someone telling him they can help and to meet at a waterfront saloon. At this dive in walks Nick Beal (Ray Milland). Beal tells Foster that another set of books exist. Taking him to the offices of his adversary, Beal displays the books for him. The problem is he has no warrant. Beal convinces him that winning the case is the most important thing and let’s Foster know that one day he’ll come to him for a favor.
As Beal handles Foster he also works himself into the life of Donna Allen (Audrey Totter). A down on her luck actress who is now little more than a bar floozy, he offers her a chance to make something better of herself. Setting her up in a penthouse filled with nice clothes, all he wants in return is for her to work herself into the governor’s campaign of Foster.
It isn’t long before Foster falls prey to the very things he said he was determined to get rid of. Along the way he begins a romance with Allen. As he begins to change his friends notice what is happening and begin to abandon him. His wife Martha (Geraldine Wall) sees herself losing him but wants to save him. With the help of Martha and his friend Rev. Thomas Garfield (George Macready), there might be a chance for him yet. Or perhaps Nick Beal will collect his marker after all.
The story here is a good morality play as we watch a man struggling to do good attempt to take a shortcut and falling by doing so. But what makes the story more interesting is that it’s sold as a film noir, those movies that featured an extreme use of lighting, cynical heroes and criminal situations. But as you may have guessed there’s more to it than that. Beale seems to materialize out of nowhere. He has a contract for Foster to sign. And he avoids touching the Bible. Any guesses as to who he might really be?
Mitchell was an excellent actor but for most of his career he was saddled with sidekick and supporting roles. There were few who could compare to his abilities to make those characters stand out. Seeing him in the lead here shows what talent he truly possessed. He turns in a solid performance. Milland on the other hand was by this time a leading man. While the focus of his character is there in the title and in the advertising for the film, his role isn’t near the lead one would expect. It takes a certain amount of confidence to allow others to shine when you’re at the peak of your career. And Milland was at his peak, giving some of his best performances in the years this and many of his films were made.
The rest of the cast does a great job as well though most
never went on to anything this big. The film was directed by John Farrow who
married Maureen O’Sullivan and who among their children was Mia Farrow. His
career produced a number of hits and he won an Oscar for his script for AROUND
THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS. His direction here works well with the material and the
end result is a movie that will not only entertain but have you figuring out
just who Nick Beale really is. It’s one worth watching more than once.
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