This film receives a LOT of bad reviews and criticism I just don't understand.
It's a very simple story. John Blandish is a very wealthy man worth about 100 million dollars and his lovely daughter, the Miss Blandish of the title (Linden Travers) is all set to marry a man named Foster Harvey.
A small time crook robs her of 100,000 dollars worth of jewelry, but a criminal female named Ma Grisson (Lilli Molnar) decides to have Miss Blandish kidnapped figuring that they will get a million dollars in ransom from her father.
Ma has no intention of letting Blandish live after the ransom is paid, but her son Slim Grisson (Jack La Rue) who knew Blandish from way back when they were kids decides to turn tables on his mother and he helps her escape.
This puts both their lives in danger and they go on the run. Blandish falls in love with Slim, but in typical noir fashion, it simply cannot be. Slim kills his mother and is hunted by the police who kill him in a gun battle. His love, Miss Blandish kills herself soon after.
This is a very dark and moody film that really captures the noir feeling. When it was released it caused quite a stir and it still holds up well as one of the finest British noir films ever made.
There are a lot of brutal set pieces that are unforgettable and some great, snappy dialogue which is never forgotten. The print from Sinister is very good and it was a pleasure to see this for the first time since I had heard so much about it.
Leading lady Linden Travers does a very good turn as the doomed lover of a man she can never have and of a life she hates. Jack La Rue gives an excellent performance as Slim and both actors work very well together.
If you get a chance you might want to check this one out. I call it a "hidden gem" that really has yet to be discovered by a mass audience of noir lovers. RECOMMENDED.
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