Black Angel (1946)

Director:

Roy William Neill

Writers:

Cornell Woolrich (novel)
Roy Chanslor (writer)

Release Date:

2 August 1946 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Film-Noir | Mystery

Tagline:

Duryea! ...that fascinating tough-guy of "Scarlet Street"!

Plot:

When Kirk Bennett is convicted of a singer's murder, his wife tries to prove him innocent...aided by the victim's ex-husband.

Plot Keywords:

Beautiful Woman | Alcoholic | Amnesia | Blackmail | Brooch

Cast

Dan Duryea	...	Martin Blair
June Vincent	...	Catherine Bennett
Peter Lorre	...	Marko
Broderick Crawford	...	Captain Flood
Constance Dowling	...	Mavis Marlowe
Wallace Ford	...	Joe
Hobart Cavanaugh	...	Jake, janitor
Freddie Steele	...	Lucky, manager of Rio's
John Phillips	...	Kirk Bennett
Ben Bard	...	Bartender
Junius Matthews	...	Dr. Courtney
Marion Martin	...	Millie
Archie Twitchell	...	George Mitchell (as Michael Branden)
Maurice St. Clair	...	Dancer (as St. Clair)
Vilova	...	Dancer
Robert Williams	...	Second Detective
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Florence Auer	...	Madame (uncredited)
Ralph Brooks	...	Intern (uncredited)
Eddy Chandler	...	Sgt. Baker (uncredited)
Mary Field	...	Mavis' Maid (uncredited)
Dorothy Granger	...	Woman (uncredited)
Eula Guy	...	Neighbor lady (uncredited)
Chuck Hamilton	...	Man (uncredited)
Shep Houghton	...	Specialty Dancer (uncredited)
Mauritz Hugo	...	Gambler (uncredited)
Georg Kreisler	...	Pianist (uncredited)
Clark Kuney	...	Announcer (uncredited)
Bud Lawler	...	Specialty dancer (uncredited)
Ann Lawrence	...	Girl clerk (uncredited)
Steve Olsen	...	Bartender (uncredited)
Pat Starling	...	Tap dancer (uncredited)
Wally Webb	...	Banjo player (uncredited)
Dick Wessel	...	Mavis' Doorman (uncredited)

Directed by
Roy William Neill

Writing credits
Cornell Woolrich		(novel)
Roy Chanslor		(writer)

Produced by
Tom McKnight	....	producer
Roy William Neill	....	producer

Original Music by
Frank Skinner

Cinematography by
Paul Ivano

Film Editing by
Saul A. Goodkind

Art Direction by
Martin Obzina
Jack Otterson

Set Decoration by
Russell A. Gausman
Edward R. Robinson		(as E.R. Robinson)

Costume Design by
Vera West		(gowns)

Makeup Department
Carmen Dirigo	....	hair stylist
Jack P. Pierce	....	makeup director

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Charles S. Gould	....	assistant director

Sound Department
Bernard B. Brown	....	sound director
Joe Lapis	....	sound technician

Special Effects by
David S. Horsley	....	special photography (as D.S. Horsley)

Music Department
Jack Brooks	....	composer: songs
Edgar Fairchild	....	composer: songs

Other crew
Raymond Kessler	....	dialogue director

Production Companies

• Universal Pictures

Distributors

• Universal Pictures (1946) (USA) (theatrical)
• Teakwood Video (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Universal Home Entertainment (2004) (USA) (DVD)

Also Known As:

The Black Angel (USA) (copyright title)

Runtime:

81 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Certification:

USA:Approved (PCA #11776) | Finland:K-16

Filming Locations:

Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Universal Pictures

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Black Dahlia (2006)

Soundtrack:

TIGER RAG

Vintage noir

This is very much the sort of quintessential forties film noir that fanciers of the genre get nostalgic for, with just the right balance of grit and glamor, low-budget ambiance and surehanded Hollywood artistry. Dan Duryea is even better here than in his Fritz Lang films (he's got a better role), Veronica Lake clone June Vincent is refreshingly un Lake-like, and Peter Lorre is utterly adorable as a hard-boiled L.A. nightclub owner with a heart of Viennese schlag.