Robert Siodmak

With enough similarities and differences to make each film stand apart in their own right, Robert Siodmak’s version of “The Killers” is better in almost every way.

The Dark Mirror is the sort of film that, if remade today, would certainly have a vastly different vibe to it. The premise is one screenwriters and directors have mined many an occasion since this 1946 romantic thriller. From action films (Double Impact), to grisly psychological dramas (Dead Ringers), the premise of the dichotomous twin sibling syndrome is definitely familiar to many seasoned movie watchers.

The File on Thelma Jordon Written by Ketti Frings Directed by Robert Siodmak USA, 1950 Cleve Marshal (Wendell Corey), assistant district attorney, arrives at the office of colleague and close friend Miles Scott (Paul Kelley) as the latter converses on the phone with Cleve’s wife Pamela (Joan Tetzel). The Marshals are experiencing rocky waters in …

There is a visible craftsmanship to Phantom Lady that helps it reach the upper echelon of movie magic. It is a slick, well produced bit of entertainment that takes bold chances with its plotting. Characters are introduced at inopportune moments in the film yet it actually benefits from those decisions. Having a rare female protagonist who only pretends to be a femme fatale is equally pertinent, landing Phantom Lady in a small club of films that took that chance during in the period.