The Eclectic Choice: His Kind Of Woman

His Kind Of Woman (1951)

dir. John Farrow

Robert Mitchum plays down on his luck gambler Dan Milner who is recruited by the mob to go to resort in Mexico an await orders. While there he runs across a bevy of odd characters who may or may not be his contact as well as fall in love with sex pot Jane Russell. Milner isn't sure who he can trust or what the hell is going on until it's too late.

Populated with a bevy of actors like Jim Backus, Charles McGraw, Tim Holt, Raymond Burr and a first rate performance by Vincent Price, this film toes the line between a darker than dark noir and slapstick comedy. The comedy comes from Price's portrayal of Mark Cardigan, a pretentious ham-fisted actor who attacks even the most serious situations with over dramatic zeal. When Mitchum is being held captive aboard a yacht and being brutally tortured, Price gathers a rescue party and recites Shakespeare when the rescue boat starts to sink. It is an odd mix, but well balanced by director John Farrow who also gave us other great noir like The Big Clock (1948) and Night Has A Thousand Eyes (1948).

For some great Mitchum-Russell chemistry, Vincent Price in high camp mode and a bevy of character actors in top form give this one a shot. It's not the best example of Film Noir, but it is one of the funniest.