|
 Real life married couple Cornel Wilde and Patricia Knight starred together in Shockproof (1949). Co-written by Samuel Fuller and Helen Deutsch, the film is directed by Douglas Sirk. Wilde plays a parole officer who is in charge of a recent parolee played by Knight. Her beauty overcomes his logic when he bends the rules after she shoots someone and flees the country with her. The film also stars John Baragrey, Howard St. John, Russell Collins and Esther Minciotti. The Shockproof DVD is part of Sony's Oct. 2009 release of The Collector's Choice: Samuel Fuller Film Collection that includes It Happened in Hollywood (1937), The Crimson Kimono (1959), Underworld U.S.A. (1961), Adventure in Sahara (1938), Power of the Press (1943) and Scandal Sheet (1952).
Patricia Knight
& Cornel Wilde
Jenny Marsh (Patricia Knight) has just been released from prison and immediately heads to a beauty salon and dress shop, eager to freshen up her looks and forget where she has just come from. After sprucing up a bit she heads to check in with her parole officer, Griff Marat (Wilde). His head buried in a pile of paperwork he only needs one look at her when she enters his office, and he's hooked. He puts on the stern "tough cop" attitude telling Jenny the strict rules of her release - no drugs, gambling, drinking, missing appointments with him and no fraternizing with former co-horts, mainly her beau Harry (John Baragrey).
The sassy Jenny stares through him reciting the rules by heart and urging him to finish so she can leave. But Griff must get her settled into an apartment and just as he's leaving who should come up the stares but Harry. Griff warns him and Jenny again, that they cannot continue in a relationship. His words fall on deaf ears and Jenny and Griff continue to see each other. When she's caught in a raid at a gambling room and brought in, Griff makes her an employee of his house, where he lives with his mother (Esther Minciotti) and brothers.
Patricia Knight
His desire for her deepens and she seems to be falling for him, too. She and Mrs. Marat, who is blind, get along very well. But Jenny also keeps seeing Harry, so the audience is not sure which side of the fence she's on. That's until Harry insists Jenny leave with him; they get into a physical fight and she shoots him. He's not dead, but Griff knows it's back to jail for her, so he grabs her and they take off for Mexico.
Up until this point the movie was somewhat intriguing, and Wilde and Knight certainly helped with their proficient performances. After this logic is thrown out the window. Griff has already proved he's a caring and nurturing man who cares for his mother and brothers. I can't believe he'd take off and leave his blind mother alone not knowing how long he will be there. And this comes after he broke her parole by marrying her before she was allowed. The ending is even worst - trite!
Wilde married Patricia Knight in 1937. They divorced in 1951. Wilde had a notable career and made films for five decades, being nominated for Best Actor in a Leading Role for A Song to Remember (1945). Knight stared on stage and a few films after meeting Wilde. After they divorced she remarried but shied away from films.
Shockproof tries to maintain some film noir elements but goes in and out of those fundamentals too often to sustain that classification. Sony's tech people do get good marks for making and restoring all of the films in the Sam Fuller Collection. They all look great - clean, clear and sharp.
Writers: Samuel Fuller & Helen Deutsch
Cast: Cornel Wilde, Patricia Knight, John Baragrey, Howard St. John, Russell Collins, Esther Minciotti
Rating: Not Rated, suitable for all ages
Classic Movie Guide Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
DVD Release Date: October 27, 2009
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Format: Black & White, full frame screen
Photo credits: Columbia Pictures
|
