When I was growing-up, The Girl Hunters was a muddled claustrophobic mess. And it hasn’t really improved with age, though it always portends-to. I suppose it has ‘the right kind of muddle’ for a detective-story. -Creating the illusion that the plot is multi-dimensional. -Nah… it’s just muddy. Mildly enjoyable, though, with Bond-girl Shirley Eaton as the femme-fatale. I’m not sure why Spillane decided to portray his-own character. And what Hy Gardner is doing in it, I’ll never know. Maybe Spillane owed him money… Lloyd Nolan should’ve played Hammer, and Spillane; the cop. I dunno… it’s okay… maybe 2 watches at best.
Just watched it and I agree. Mitchum is one sinister SOB. This and Cape Fear are a couple of my faves from him.
Saw Double Indemnity for the first time last night. What a fantastic movie! Also watched the extras (which I only do if I really like the movie) and was shocked to hear some musical comedy with Bing Crosby won the Oscar for best picture that year! I guess bad choices at the Oscars is nothing new…
Double Indemnity is one of those “classics” which couldn’t live up to their reputation for me, and left me behind a bit disappointed.
Finally! I’m not a big fan either, but I’m constantly seeing it listed as one of the best film noirs. I agree it doesn’t live up to its reputation.
Whaaaat? Edward G Robinson is amazing in this! Fred MacMurray and Barbara Stanwyck are great together…There are some moments of real suspense in this one (unlike many other movies from back then) and the “Film Noir” camera & light work is great. 8.6 at imdb sounds about right to me 
Not to me. That makes it their second highest rated film noir after Sunset Boulevard:
http://www.imdb.com/chart/filmnoir
I would put quite a number of other film noirs above it in terms of quality. I won’t bother to name titles, but yes, I agree with Stanton that it can’t live up to its reputation.
Now, that I often disagree with the Smokedown, I maybe should give it another chance …
I do agree that Sunset Blvd is better. I’m going to watch The Big Heat next. I’m really getting into these film noirs
Just watched The Big Heat, thought it was very good… There was more violence (both implied and on screen) than any movie I’ve seen from back then… Lee Marvin was great! I didn’t really buy Glenn Ford as a badass cop though… Next up The Big Sleep and Key Largo.
The Big Sleep is full-blooded noir, but Key Largo is more film griss.
I have to say I really enjoyed Key Largo. The premise reminded me of Ian Fleming’s The Spy Who Loved Me, which I also quite liked.
Really? I’m struggling to see a connection.
Fleming’s novel, not the film, which has nothing to do with the novel.
The novel is also completely different from any other Bond novel.
[quote=“Stanton, post:574, topic:1786”]Fleming’s novel, not the film, which has nothing to do with the novel.
The novel is also completely different from any other Bond novel.[/quote]
Ah right, I didn’t realise he was refereing to the book. I hear that it is a big departure from other Bond novels. Myself, I have only read Live and Let Die, which was fun pulp fiction.
The Spy Who Loved Me is mostly about a girl (who tells the complete novel in the first person) who remembers her not so happy former life in England (repressed sexuality, sad first love and stuff like this) and is in danger to become (in the USA now) the victim of an insurance fraud, but Bond, who appears only at page 70 of 120, saves her life and becomes … well, the title says it.
The film seems to be slightly different 
I rewatched Howard Hawks classic film noir The Big Sleep (1946). It is sexy, sultry and enormous fun, one of my all time favourites.
Yeah, as Stanton says, the novel rather than the film (or rather the second half of the novel, since the first half is bizarre melodrama). It’s not the best Bond book and it is widely hated by critics and fans, but I quite liked reading it. Sorry, I should have been clearer.
Watched Kiss me Deadly last night. I haven’t seen that many noirs yet, but its definitely in my top 10! Very cool movie…
Oh yes …