"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.

"Crack-Up", directed by Irving Reis

Movie, 1946

Largely effective B-movie mystery concerning efforts to discredit and silence an outspoken art critic at a New York Museum. While not a hugely promising premise and despite an odd take on the merits of modern art, some very occasional slack pacing and questionable plot switches, this is an atmospheric film which delivers most of the time. The mystery element is a little lame, but the noir photography and set pieces make for some tension along the way. Far from a classic, but as a diversion on a wet afternoon, viewers could do a lot worse than this.