Lesser Of Noir and Siodmak, But Still ...

Stanwyck Comes-A-Killing to The File On Thelma Jordon (1950)

Gets off to unpromising start with Wendell Corey sloppy drunk for what seems eternity, but be patient, it gets better. Hal Wallis produced, another of his delves into psychology of greedy folk pushed to killing because they want it all. Corey was a Wallis hire lacking goods to lead, here a born chump stronger names might have been reluctant to play. For an assistant D.A. with oft-mentioned promise, he sure makes stupid moves, all in service to Barbara Stanwyck doing reprise of image-defining Double Indemnity. Thelma Jordon (The File On ... often omitted from title listings) was directed by Robert Siodmak, so you'd expect a higher profile, though it was settled long ago, even by cultists, that this was among his weakest. Thelma is really more representative of Wallis, who would let no director personal-stamp anything bearing HW credit. The less charitable could laugh at thickets woven here, Thelma Jordon one of those where complication is prolonged for its own sake. Siodmak gets in licks where he can: Corey's relation with the wife he betrays is more grown-up than what we expect of otherwise bald melodrama. The File On Thelma Jordon arrives via Olive Blu-Ray lease from Paramount. Quality is fine.