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ThrillerDramaCrime

The File on Thelma Jordon

- ...SHE'LL LIE...KILL OR KISS HER WAY OUT OF ANYTHING!

Cleve Marshall, an assistant district attorney, falls for Thelma Jordon, a mysterious woman with a troubled past. When Thelma becomes a suspect in her aunt's murder, Cleve tries to clear her name.

Release Date : 1949-11-04

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : Hal Wallis ProductionsWallis-Hazen Inc.Paramount Pictures

Production Country : United States of America

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Barbara Stanwyck

Character Name : Thelma Jordon

Original Name : Barbara Stanwyck

Gender : Female

Wendell Corey

Character Name : Cleve Marshall

Original Name : Wendell Corey

Gender : Male

Paul Kelly

Character Name : Miles Scott

Original Name : Paul Kelly

Gender : Male

Joan Tetzel

Character Name : Pamela Blackwell Marshall

Original Name : Joan Tetzel

Gender : Female

Stanley Ridges

Character Name : Kingsley Willis

Original Name : Stanley Ridges

Gender : Male

Richard Rober

Character Name : Tony Laredo

Original Name : Richard Rober

Gender : Male

Minor Watson

Character Name : Judge Calvin H. Blackwell

Original Name : Minor Watson

Gender : Male

Barry Kelley

Character Name : District Attorney William Pierce

Original Name : Barry Kelley

Gender : Male

Kasey Rogers

Character Name : Dolly - Cleve's Secretary

Original Name : Kasey Rogers

Gender : Female

Basil Ruysdael

Character Name : Judge Jonathan David Hancock

Original Name : Basil Ruysdael

Gender : Male

Jane Novak

Character Name : Mrs. Blackwell

Original Name : Jane Novak

Gender : Female

Gertrude Hoffmann

Character Name : Aunt Vera Edwards

Original Name : Gertrude Hoffmann

Gender : Female

Harry Antrim

Character Name : Sidney

Original Name : Harry Antrim

Gender : Male

Kate Drain Lawson

Character Name : Clara

Original Name : Kate Drain Lawson

Gender : Female

Theresa Harris

Character Name : Esther

Original Name : Theresa Harris

Gender : Female

Byron Barr

Character Name : McCary

Original Name : Byron Barr

Gender : Male

Geraldine Wall

Character Name : Matron

Original Name : Geraldine Wall

Gender : Female

Jonathan Corey

Character Name : Timmy Marshall

Original Name : Jonathan Corey

Gender : Male

Robin Corey

Character Name : Joan Marshall

Original Name : Robin Corey

Gender : Male

Bess Flowers

Character Name : Dinner Party Guest (Uncredited)

Original Name : Bess Flowers

Gender : Female

Nick Cravat

Character Name : Reporter (Uncredited)

Original Name : Nick Cravat

Gender : Male

Eric Alden

Character Name : Reporter (Uncredited)

Original Name : Eric Alden

Gender : Male

Gertrude Astor

Character Name : Juror (Uncredited)

Original Name : Gertrude Astor

Gender : Female

Rodney Bell

Character Name : Withers (Uncredited)

Original Name : Rodney Bell

Gender : Male

Eddie Borden

Character Name : Courtroom Spectator (Uncredited)

Original Name : Eddie Borden

Gender : Male

Ethel Bryant

Character Name : Deputy (Uncredited)

Original Name : Ethel Bryant

Gender : Male

Clancy Cooper

Character Name : Chase (Uncredited)

Original Name : Clancy Cooper

Gender : Male

John Cortay

Character Name : Deputy Sheriff (Uncredited)

Original Name : John Cortay

Gender : Male

Jim Davies

Character Name : Bailiff (Uncredited)

Original Name : Jim Davies

Gender : Male

Helen Dickson

Character Name : Courtroom Spectator (Uncredited)

Original Name : Helen Dickson

Gender : Female

Dot Farley

Character Name : Woman Prisoner (Uncredited)

Original Name : Dot Farley

Gender : Female

Franklyn Farnum

Character Name : Grand Juryman / Courtroom Spectator (Uncredited)

Original Name : Franklyn Farnum

Gender : Male

Mary Gordon

Character Name : Charwoman (Uncredited)

Original Name : Mary Gordon

Gender : Female

William Hamel

Character Name : Newsman (Uncredited)

Original Name : William Hamel

Gender : Male

Sam Harris

Character Name : Courtroom Spectator (Uncredited)

Original Name : Sam Harris

Gender : Male

Lew Harvey

Character Name : Reporter (Uncredited)

Original Name : Lew Harvey

Gender : Male

Art Howard

Character Name : Courtroom Spectator (Uncredited)

Original Name : Art Howard

Gender : Male

Virginia Hunter

Character Name : Pierce's Secretary (Uncredited)

Original Name : Virginia Hunter

Gender : Female

Jerry James

Character Name : Reporter (Uncredited)

Original Name : Jerry James

Gender : Male

Geraldine Jordan

Character Name : Woman Prisoner (Uncredited)

Original Name : Geraldine Jordan

Gender : Male

Nolan Leary

Character Name : Court Clerk (Uncredited)

Original Name : Nolan Leary

Gender : Male

Sam McDaniel

Character Name : Porter (Uncredited)

Original Name : Sam McDaniel

Gender : Male

William Meader

Character Name : Reporter (Uncredited)

Original Name : William Meader

Gender : Male

Walter Merrill

Character Name : Reporter (Uncredited)

Original Name : Walter Merrill

Gender : Male

Ottola Nesmith

Character Name : Mrs. Asher (Uncredited)

Original Name : Ottola Nesmith

Gender : Female

Garry Owen

Character Name : Bailiff (Uncredited)

Original Name : Garry Owen

Gender : Male

Eddie Parks

Character Name : Club Proprietor (Uncredited)

Original Name : Eddie Parks

Gender : Male

Lee Phelps

Character Name : Chauffeur (Uncredited)

Original Name : Lee Phelps

Gender : Male

Ezelle Poule

Character Name : Woman (Uncredited)

Original Name : Ezelle Poule

Gender : Female

Jack Roberts

Character Name : Reporter (Uncredited)

Original Name : Jack Roberts

Gender : Male

Stephen Roberts

Character Name : Jury Foreman (Uncredited)

Original Name : Stephen Roberts

Gender : Male

Charles Sherlock

Character Name : Reporter (Uncredited)

Original Name : Charles Sherlock

Gender : Male

Bert Stevens

Character Name : Defense Aide (Uncredited)

Original Name : Bert Stevens

Gender : Male

Harry Templeton

Character Name : Newsman (Uncredited)

Original Name : Harry Templeton

Gender : Male

Kenneth Tobey

Character Name : Police Photographer (Uncredited)

Original Name : Kenneth Tobey

Gender : Male

Arthur Tovey

Character Name : Courtroom Spectator (Uncredited)

Original Name : Arthur Tovey

Gender : Male

Dorothy Vernon

Character Name : Courtroom Spectator (Uncredited)

Original Name : Dorothy Vernon

Gender : Female

Lynn Whitney

Character Name : Woman Prisoner (Uncredited)

Original Name : Lynn Whitney

Gender : Male

Michael Ann Barrett

Character Name : Woman Prisoner (Uncredited)

Original Name : Michael Ann Barrett

Gender : Male

Fairy Cunningham

Character Name : Woman Prisoner (Uncredited)

Original Name : Fairy Cunningham

Gender : Female

Caroline Fitzharris

Character Name : Cook's Daughter (Uncredited)

Original Name : Caroline Fitzharris

Gender : Male

Howard Gardiner

Character Name : Reporter (Uncredited)

Original Name : Howard Gardiner

Gender : Male

Bill Hawes

Character Name : Courtroom Spectator (Uncredited)

Original Name : Bill Hawes

Gender : Male

Dorothy Klewer

Character Name : Woman Prisoner (Uncredited)

Original Name : Dorothy Klewer

Gender : Male

Walter Bacon

Character Name : Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)

Original Name : Walter Bacon

Gender : Male

Joe Evans

Character Name : Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)

Original Name : Joe Evans

Gender : Male

Stan Johnson

Character Name : Minor Role (uncredited)

Original Name : Stan Johnson

Gender : Male

Lorna Jordon

Character Name : Woman (uncredited)

Original Name : Lorna Jordon

Gender : Male

Marjorie Kane

Character Name : Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)

Original Name : Marjorie Kane

Gender : Female

Victor Romito

Character Name : Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)

Original Name : Victor Romito

Gender : Male

Reviews

J

John Chard

@John Chard

2024-05-16

I'm no good for any man for any longer than a kiss! The File on Thelma Jordon is directed by Robert Siodmak and written by Ketti Frings and Marty Holland. It stars Barbara Stanwyck, Wendell Corey, Paul Kelly, Joan Tetzel, Stanley Ridges and Richard Rober. Music is by Victor Young and cinematography by George Barnes. Assistant district attorney Cleve Marshall (Corey) falls for Thelma Jordon (Stanwyck) after she seeks help solving a problem with prowlers and burglars. But is there more to Thelma than meets the eye? Probably due to availability issues in home viewing formats, this appears to be one of film noir legends Siodmak and Stanwyck's under seen pictures. Which is a shame, for although it is often tagged as something of a lesser value Double Indemnity, it's a noir that noir lovers can get great rewards from. As we are in noirville the plot isn't at all surprising. Stanwyck fronts up for what we expect is femme fatale duty, Corey looks to be on course for being a hapless loser dude, Kelly is up for some tough copper portrayal, while Rober stalks the edges of the frame as bad news bloke. A despicable crime is at the core of the story, and characterisations are straight out of the dark alleyway (Thelma has murky secrets and ideals, Wendell is unhappily married with a drink problem). Running at 100 minutes in length, the pic does feel a touch too long, especially given that the first thirty minutes is focused on building the principal players, where they are at in their life and the build up of their relationship. This asks for faith in staying with the piece, in hope it rewards for the following hour plus. Thankfully it does. As the crime arrives, we are treated to noir nirvana as per style of film making. It's the middle of the night in a house menaced by shadows as the wind bashes an open window shutter. For a good twenty minutes, prior to - during - and post the crime, the house is a scary monstrous place, perfect for a dark deed to be enacted. The great Siodmak (The Killers, The Spiral Staircase, Criss Cross) is in his element on this, where aided by the superb photographic skills of Barnes (Rebecca, Force of Evil), the staging of scenes and the visuals enhance the moody machinations of the plot. As does Young's dramatic musical score. So with acting performances comfortably on par for the good the tech credits are high. Irks come with that drawn out first third of film, and the ending poses some question marks as well. Personally I would have liked it to have finished five minutes earlier, but as it stands there's a sort of double whammy with the finale. Some will find it contrived, others will applaud the ultimate outcome since it doesn't cop out. Either way, this is a noir film worthy of seeking out for the like minded purveyors of such things. 7/10