The Lady in the Lake – 1947 – United States
I decided to watch this movie after suddenly remembering Hardcore Henry (2015), a truly absurd movie shot entirely from a first-person perspective. Basically, the whole thing is like a hyperactive first-person shooter video game. The Lady in the Lake is the opposite of that. Although the movie is in first-person, it’s sedate and dialogue-heavy with a winding plot that you really have to pay attention to. That being said, watching first-person movies is always engaging. I wish there were more of them.
Based on a novel by Raymond Chandler, The Lady in the Lake is a cynical private eye story full of sleazy, hostile characters and punchy, mean-spirited dialogue. The movie is composed entirely of dialogue scenes. At the time, the technology for a highly mobile first-person camera didn’t really exist. There are no action scenes. There aren’t even establishing shots. There are just lots of long, continuous takes of the various characters talking to the camera with the protagonist’s disembodied voice responding. The protagonist is only seen during a few interludes and some scenes when he looks in the mirror. It is very strange and experimental, and it feels more like a play or a novel than a movie.
At least all the dialogue is sort of engaging. None of the characters, including the protagonist, are likable, but they are magnetic. They are rude and conniving, and you never know what rude quip they are going to say next. Sexism is rampant. The movie’s trailer suggests that the audience should be trying to solve the mystery alongside the private eye. Doing so might be possible if you’re a genius (or very focused). There are a few twists.
The Lady in the Lake is also notable for its low-key musical score. There is barely any music at all, and what’s there is an eerie vocal chorus that is barely melodic. The movie is also a Christmas movie, although it really doesn’t need to be, and it opens with a medley of Christmas carols during the title sequence.
Rating: 6/10 Shrunken Heads
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