Told in flashback story of a trick-shot artist who gets involved with his assistant who will do anything to get what she wants. Directed by Anthony Mann and produced by Billy Wilder this is a by the book melodrama of one woman destroying the lives of every man she comes in contact with. Far from a bad movie the movie suffers from the fact that we know the ending (Erich Von Stroheim is telling what happened as he lays dying). Even if we had seen this from the beginning we'd know it ends bad but we wouldn't be able to work out several of the twists that knowing the end imparts.If there is any real flaw beyond knowing how it ends, its the casting of Von Stroheim who seems too old and a bit too stiff for his man led astray. Still its the work of two cinema legends doing out what they do best and thats turning out a decent little film. Definitely worth a look if you're in the mood for a good film noir.
Review of The Great Flamarion
The Great Flamarion
(1945)
Good but forgettable film noir by a couple of great film makers
15 July 2006