***** 1951. Written and directed by Billy Wilder. Earned the 1951 International award in Venice and an Academy award nomination in the Best Screenplay category. New Mexico. An ambitious journalist manages to grip the nation's hearts by coordinating the rescue of a tomb raider trapped in a cave. Masterpiece.

**1/2 1941. Directed by Stuart Eisler. The twin brother of Paul Raden, a wealthy heir, escapes from the cellar he was kept in for 25 years by his father. Paul is a maniac who soon starts to kill. So so film noir that allows us to admire Susan Hayward and Frances Farmer though. Be aware that this DVD is a bootleg. For hardcore fans only.

***1/2 1950. Directed by Richard Fleischer. A policeman is killed during a hold-up. His partner Cordell hunts down Dave Purvis in the streets of Los Angeles. A tense B movie without any dead time. Recommended. Be aware that you'll need a multizone DVD player to watch this Spanish zone 2 DVD.

**1/2 1948. Directed by Budd Boetticher. A reporter and a private investigator, Ross Stewart, join forces in order to get the proof that Judge Finlay Drake hides in Dr. porter's mental institution. Stewart feigns mental illness and manages to be interned. Average but the fight with Tor -The Champ- Johnson is impressive.

***1/2 1952. Directed by Harry Horner. Robert Ryan, a psychopath suffering from amnesia and persecution complex, is hired by Ida Lupino as handyman. She is soon locked in her own house without knowing what Robert Ryan wants from her. A film to rediscover. Recommended.

*** 1948. Directed by John Farrow. The film earned a nomination for the Edgar Allan Poe award. A journalist, Ray Milland, discovers that his boss, Charles Laughton, killed a young woman. He's given the responsibility to cover the topic by Laughton. Slightly disappointing Film Noir with too many comic scenes. Recommended nonetheless thanks to laughton's performance.

***** 1953. Directed by Fritz Lang. This film earned the 1954 Edgar Allan Poe award. When Det. Sgt. Dave Bannion's wife dies in the explosion of his car, Bannion decides to avenge her without the help of his department. He knows that Mike Lagana, the local mob boss, is responsible for this murder. Masterpiece.

***** 1946. Co-written by William Faulkner and directed by Howard Hawks. Private detective Philip Marlowe is hired by General Sternwood to unmask the man blackmailing him. Sternwood's two daughters, Carmen and Vivian, won't make it easy for Marlowe. A legendary couple : Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall. Masterpiece.

1954. Directed by Hugo Fregonese. Not seen. If you know how to get a copy of it, just tell me...

***1/2 1953. Directed by Fritz Lang. Anne Baxter goes out with Raymond Burr, gets drunk and discovers the following day that Burr was murdered during the night. She can't bear her guilty feelings and decides to tell the truth to journalist Richard Conte. Recommended.

**** 1947. Directed by Elia Kazan. Academy award nomination in the Best Screenplay category. A minister is killed in a little town of Connecticut. As Arthur Kennedy is believed by all to be the murderer, State Attorney Dana Andrews himself amazingly stands up for him. Highly recommended.

***** 1947. Directed by Robert Wise. Lawrence Tierney is an insane killer ready to get rid of anybody disagreeing with him. He falls in love with Claire Trevor but finally marries her sister who's a wealthy heiress. A masterpiece to rediscover.