The Web

A nifty little thriller that has lawyer Edmond O'Brien hired as bodyguard for business tycoon Vincent Price. Of course it doesn't take a detective to figure out that someone is setting someone else up, nor does it take a college diploma to figure out who those someones might be. Still, the cast (which also includes Ella Raines and William Bendix) is obviously enjoying themselves here, and if they're not going to take things too seriously, why should you? It's best not to think too hard about the plot developments (like why would a tycoon hire a lawyer to be his bodyguard in the first place?) and just enjoy the slick ride.

Grade: A-

Ella Raines was one of the best and most under-utilized actresses of the 40's. She was great in Phantom Lady and Tall In The Saddle, and is even better in the Web. And Bendix, O'Brien, and Price all equal her in excellence. But, the writing is the single most above-average thing about this all-but-forgotten little gem. It is exceedingly well[plotted, suspenseful, and surprising without ever seeming the least bit contrived. Mystery fans should track AMC carefully to be sure to catch this one next time around.

A strong cast and a neat story make up "The Web" from 1947, starring Edmond O'Brien, Ella Raines, Vincent Price, and William Bendix.

O'Brien is an attorney, Regan, who is hired for an exorbitant amount of money to be the bodyguard for a tycoon, Andrew Colby (Price). He is frightened of a former employee who has just been released from prison.

Regan meets Colby's beautiful secretary-girlfriend Noel (Raines) - she seems to be living in Colby's house, which makes me wonder where the censors were. Regan falls for her. After the released convict seemingly breaks into Colby's home, Regan kills him. Then he starts to think he's been set up.

Enjoyable noir with Raines a knockout - she's one of my favorite actresses of that era - and Price before his horror days and very effective.

Neat plot.

My wife and I visited our vintage DVD store at Camden Lock, north London the other day, for my Easter 2014 treat which was to buy some more dvds for my collection of mainly 1940s & 50s film dramas.I am thinking now of promoting the lovely Ella Raines to one of my favourite screen goddesses after seeing "The Web"(1947).By the way, I especially collect Margaret Lockwood, Vivien Leigh, Jean Simmons,Gene Tierney,Jennifer Jones, Ava Gardner & Hedy Lamarr films.So far I have "Impact" (1949), "La Dama Desconocida","Tall in the Saddle","The Suspect" all from (1944) and now I have "The Web" (1947).

Ella always brilliantly and naturally plays the true American heroine in her movies and she has the most engaging smile which melts my heart whenever I see her act on screen.I will definitely look out for more vintage movies of Ella.As to the film I award it 7/10 as it is well written with a fine cast which includes arch horror actor Vincent Price as a youngish actor.I do not see Edmund O'Brian as a particularly romantic lead however.There are a few "red herrings" in the script but the viewer soon ascertains who is the true villain.I believe the complete film is now available on www.youtube.com

The Web is one of dozens of forties thrillers featuring private detectives and the rich men who hire them, the beautiful women who love them, and the police, who invariably hamper their efforts to unravel the clues to intricate mysteries, the details of which are explained with astonishing clarity in the end, despite the fact that most viewers can scarcely be expected to keep track of all the evidence. This one is more elegant than most, with plush settings and striking photography. There's a touch of Laura here, thanks to the casting of Vincent Price and the character he plays, as well as a bit of the Chandler private eye cycle in the character of Edmond O'Brien's detective. Ella Raines makes a beautiful heroine, and Bill Bendix is on hand as the no-nonsense cop. Michael Gordon directs smoothly, and everything comes together in the end. There's nothing remarkable in The Web, which is just a cut above the generic, but it works like a Swiss watch.