User reviews

The Assistant District Attorney Cleve Marshall (Wendell Corey) has an unhappy marriage with his wife Pamela Blackwell Marshall (Joan Tetzel) due to the interference of her father, Judge Calvin H. Blackwell (Minor Watson). He decides to drink in his office after hours instead of going to the birthday party of Pamela. Out of the blue, a woman named Thelma Jordon (Barbara Stanwyck) arrives at the office looking for Cleve's boss to report an attempt of robbery of her wealthy Aunt Vera Edwards (Gertrude W. Hoffman) and she ends the night drinking and dancing with Cleve in a restaurant. Soon they have a love affair and Cleve falls in love with Thelma. But he does not know anything about the past of the mysterious Thelma. When Aunt Vera is murdered at home, Thelma calls Cleve to help her since she would be the prime suspect of shooting her aunt. He covers up the evidences that might link Thelma to the death becoming her accomplice and is assigned to be the prosecutor of her judgment. What will happen to Thelma and Cleve?

"The File on Thelma Jordon" is a fine film-noir directed by the master Robert Siodmak. Barbara Stanwyck performs the typical femme fatale, seducing the assistant DA Cleve Marshall and destroying his life. The moralist conclusion could have been better but the film is worthwhile watching. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "A Confissão de Thelma" ("The Confession of Thelma Jordon")

Wendell Corey had a long career in film and television. In this film he plays Cleve Marshall, an assistant DA who is staying late at the office to avoid going home on his anniversary because his father-in-law (Minor Watson) is there.

While he knocking back shots as fast as he can pour them, in walks Thelma Jordan (Barbara Stanwyck) looking for help. Now, one would certainly be suspicious if a beauty like that immediately began a relationship, but our intrepid hero is too drunk to notice, and, after all, he wants to go out and find a dame.

He is no better the next day when his wife (Joan Tetzel) takes the kids to the beach house, and leaves him alone during the week.

As one would expect in film noir, everything is not as it seems. Cleve gets himself into hot water and uses all his wits to get out.

I have to admit the ending was a big surprise.

So much has already been said about this film, so I don't have to elaborate. All I can say about this movie is "oh my!". The reason being is that during the late 40's and early 50's a film about infidelity, even though popular at the time (Nora Prentiss, The Postman Always Rings Twice) was viewed by many as taboo, but that didn't stop them from flocking to the local theater to see it!

What puzzles me is that this film has been ignored. It is a well crafted movie with all the elements of a good film noir. It has crime, it has sex, it has deception and it has corruption throughout and it has great cinematography; what a perfect noir! If you have a chance to see this film on TCM, do yourself a favor and make a copy. You will not be disappointed.

If you like film-noirs this one is for you. This is one of the most entertaining film-noirs I have ever seen, and I am a big fan of this kind of movies. I am surprised this film is not very well known, this is an underrated one and it should have a higher score too.

The performances of the leadings Barbara Stanwyck and Wendell Corey are very good. The plot is entertaining, smart and interesting, the supporting cast is good too. The film begins like a kind of entertaining drama & romantic-comedy movie to change at the middle to a very good film-noir. This movie will remind you a little bit "Double Indemnity (1944)" for some similarities in the plot. There is a great scene involving the already dead aunt that is a pleasure to watch for its suspense.

Cleve Marshall is a married Assistant district attorney who is having problems with his wife and falls in love with the mysterious Thelma Jordon who is the niece of a rich old lady, when the aunt is murdered everything point that Thelma is guilty then Cleve will do everything to save her ........

I recommend watching this movie. This is a must see for every film-noir fan

8 stars = very good

Great beautiful actress Barbara Stanwyck, always very credible and convincing in her roles. In this one too, not an easy part to play. Wendell Corey convincing too in the role of Cleve Marshall. Same Joan Tetzel in the role of the wife. All the cast is very good. Again, Robert Siodmak doing a very good job. He made also "The Killers" with Burt Lancaster and Ava Gardner, "Pyramid of the Sun God"(which enjoyed my childhood) and many others good films.

The Second-Act Stands Out.

It's Here that Siodmak Cranks and uses His Film-Noir Bona-Fides and Presents a Shadow-Laden Visually Dark Atmosphere.

The Nucleus and Nader of this Journey to the Dark-Side.

It is the Signature Noir Black Goo on Top of Suspense, Murder, and Mystery that Encompasses the Off-Center Atmosphere. A Place that these Folks Inhabit that Cuts Loose from the "American Dream".

Welcome to Film-Noir.

It Reflects the Sites, Sounds, and Terror that Resides in this Nether Webbed-World.

This is an Under-Appreciated Entry in Genre. Wendell Corey is Well Cast as a Gloomy, Emotionally Confused Married-Man that is One-Step Away and an Easily Swayed "Mark".

Putty in the Hands of an Experienced, Sharp-Edged "Dame" that Cuts Through the Normalcy and Comfort of "Good" Citizenry. She Balances Corey, the System, and a Gangster Boyfriend and will End Things Her Way.

Another Master-Class of Noir from Stanwyck and Siodmak.

I agree with Eddie Muller that the best scene in the movie is the exchange between a murderess and her even more amoral defense counsel. And therein lies the problem with this "Double Indemnity" spin (rip) off. Shouldn't the stand out scene involve Barbara Stanwyck and Wendell Corey, who plays her sleazy lover/accomplice, rather than Babs and her sleazy lawyer? In other words, this Robert Siodmak film will always come in second in a noir footrace with Billy Wilder's classic. Having said that, because it is a Siodmak film many things linger in the mind such as the fine collection of subsidiary characters assembled in Ketti Frings' good screenplay. There is Paul Kelly in the avuncular Edward G Robinson role, Joan Tetzel as Corey's loving but too clingy wife, Richard Rober as Stanwyck's oleaginous paramour, Tony Laredo, and, as mentioned above, the even more smarmy attorney played by Stanley Ridges. All are excellent. As is Wendell Corey, perhaps drawing from his own life to portray a most convincing alcoholic. And George Barnes' night time/ nightmare cinematography is the perfect accompaniment to Siodmak's three o' clock of the soul tone. Finally, there is Ms. Stanwyck once again proving that when it comes to playing a character who is writhing in the net of good and evil she has no peer. Give it a B.

Barbara Stanwyck is up to her film noir tricks in this offering from 1950. Stanwyck shows up one night at a district attorney's office to put in a report about attempted break-ins at her aunt's home but instead of the DA, she finds his drunk assistant, played by Wendell Corey (drunk because he's just had a row w/his controlling wife over the phone). Corey & Stanwyck both have a drink nearby & when they conclude the night he kisses her which blossoms into an illicit affair (which surprisingly Corey admits to when confronted by his wife, Joan Tetzel). One night Stanwyck's aunt, Gertrude W. Hoffmann, hears a noise in her home & is shot dead when she goes to investigate it. Stanwyck discovers the body but to cover up the fact she wasn't home calls Corey to come over who quickly cleans up the locale to make it seem like she had nothing to do w/the crime (even though the caretaker who lives in an adjoining building contradicts her tale). Put on trial for Hoffmann's murder, Stanwyck is prosecuted by the recently elevated Corey but due to the evidence presented ends up in acquittal where we get a late stage reveal Stanwyck & an old lover/presumed husband, Richard Rober, concocted the entire scheme to get rich putting poor Corey on the ropes as the whole business is wrapped up in typical noir fashion. Corey is excellent as the henpecked, soused husband w/Stanwyck the consummate pro in all things noir letting her foil get wrapped around her little finger. The neatly wrapped up ending may turn some off but Corey's sufficient time in the proverbial wringer is enough to keep the audience guessing when the other devastating shoe will drop.