Dein Leben in meiner Hand (1950)

Dein Leben in meiner Hand: Directed by Michael Gordon. With Ida Lupino, Stephen McNally, Howard Duff, Peggy Dow. After her father is killed in an accident, mill heiress Deborah Chandler marries the plant manager, Selden Clark, but his motives are suspicious.

“Woman in Hiding is directed by Michael Gordon and adapted to screenplay by Oscar Saul and Roy Huggins from a story by James Webb. It stars Ida Lupino, Stephen McNally, Howard Duff and Peggy Dow. Music is by Milton Schwarzwald and cinematography by William H. Daniels.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eAfter the mysterious death of her father, a quickfire marriage to a hugely suspicious man, and an attempt on her life, Deborah Chandler Clark (Lupino) is forced to assume a new identity and go into hiding…u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eNo great shakes as regards the plot line, itu0026#39;s a standard woman in peril piece, where we the viewers know whatu0026#39;s going on and only really await for what we hope is a punchy resolution to it all. However, overcoming the simplicity of formula, itu0026#39;s a film nicely constructed and performed, with plenty of suspense, tightly wound anticipation and some very pleasing visual accompaniments.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eOpening with a guarded voice over from Lupinou0026#39;u0026#39;s character, mood is nicely set at noir influenced. From here we quickly get to know the principle players and are quickly on Deborahu0026#39;s side. Peril and emotional pain is never far away with Gordon (The Web) and ace photographer Daniels (The Naked City) complicit in mood enhancements. Cue a cabin at nighttime bathed in oppressive moonlight, shadowed window bars striking facial menace – and as Deborahu0026#39;s peril grows greater – an imposing staircase ripe for a dastardly deed, Then we hit the last quarter of film and the quality really shines through. A steam train at night is grand, a splendid setting, but that is just a precursor to the exciting denouement at the deserted mill of Deborahu0026#39;s birthright. Daniels excels, his photography straight out of a noir fever dream, all while the industrial churning of the mill machinery adds impetus to the thrilling conclusion.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eIt needed more of a black heart as per outcome to be a definitive noir pic, but it comes safely recommended to noir enthusiasts regardless. 7/10”