"Mildred Pierce", directed by Michael Curtiz

Movie, 1945

Story of the eponymous, hard working heroine, a murder and how Pierce, her family, associates and the murder victim all come to find themselves embroiled with each other. If this film starts a little slowly, it really builds its characters and picks up pace and intensity on the way. Pierce is a wonderful character the audience can't help but get behind and root for, while events around her throw up barriers she's adept at overcoming. The determination, and Pierce's flaws and frailties give the film its dynamic and deliver a really effective, beautifully shot twist on the noir genre.

Poster: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=12252720

"Nocturne", directed Edwin L Marin

Movie, 1946

Moody whodunnit-cum-thriller, which feels a little restrained in terms of its settings and action, but which nonetheless puts over some good ideas and looks great in places. While the action and the film swiftly slip into formulae, the central character just about keeps the interest, despite George Raft not being 100% convincing in the role. Some good expressionistic lighting, noir atmospherics and pretty entertaining overall, though never really hitting the absolute pinnacles of similar films of the time and genre.

"Murder My Sweet", directed by Edward Dmytryk

Movie, 1944

Cracking film noir, with all the wise cracking, brooding shadows and compromised characters you could ask for. While this isn't quite up to the standard of Bogart's Marlowe, this is an entertaining film all the same and moves along at a decent pace. The character of Moose Malloy brings a measure of humour with the cruelty and brutality, while the action scenes are well played and understated. There's possibly some missing spark which means this film isn't an absolute classic, but it's excellent entertainment all the same.

"Whirlpool", directed Otto Preminger

Movie, 1949

Tightly plotted film which seems to have been given a slightly Hollywood plot (the leading characters suffer, although would probably have come off a lot worse in 'real life'). This is a tense, atmospheric journey with a wonderful study of a main protagonist hell-bent on doing no good. Granted, there are times when the plot stretches any true suspension of disbelief and the climax is, possibly, a little snappy, but nonetheless, this is an effective and affecting film which nibbles uneasily at the psyche. You'd struggle to call it a classic, although it is pretty classy.

Trailer