{"id":12652,"date":"2010-10-14T11:10:40","date_gmt":"2010-10-14T18:10:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=12652"},"modified":"2020-12-31T12:14:38","modified_gmt":"2020-12-31T19:14:38","slug":"i-wake-up-screaming-1941","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=12652","title":{"rendered":"I Wake Up Screaming (1941)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;She had youth, looks, a good figure. What more do you want?<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/09\/i-wake-up-screaming-poster.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/09\/i-wake-up-screaming-poster.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"229\" height=\"325\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-12653\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nWhen an aspiring model (Carole Landis) is killed, her sister (Betty Grable) and her agent (Victor Mature) are questioned by a menacing police detective (Laird Cregar); meanwhile, they try to solve the murder mystery, and find themselves falling in love.\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>\n<strong>Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Amateur Sleuths<\/li>\n<li>Aspiring Stars<\/li>\n<li>Betty Grable Films<\/li>\n<li>Carole Landis Films<\/li>\n<li>Detectives and Private Eyes<\/li>\n<li>Elisha Cook Jr. Films<\/li>\n<li>Flashback Films<\/li>\n<li>Laird Cregar Films<\/li>\n<li>Murder Mystery<\/li>\n<li>Obsessive Love<\/li>\n<li>Victor Mature Films<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Review: <\/strong><br \/>\n<em>I Wake Up Screaming<\/em> remains a minor but intriguing mid-century American <em>noir<\/em> for two central reasons. First and most importantly, it&#8217;s a truly stunning visual treat: director H. Bruce Humberstone and cinematographer Edward Cronjager effectively transform a rather <a href=\"http:\/\/www.nysun.com\/arts\/glossy-perfection\/33883\/\">&#8220;prosaic melodrama into a highly influential exercise in sculpted lighting&#8221;<\/a>, one so full of strategic contrasts and stylized imagery that its atmosphere is practically palpable. See stills below for just a few representative examples. <\/p>\n<p>Second, the film is memorable for a creepy supporting performance by the solid (literally) character actor Laird Cregar: <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/10\/I-Wake-Up-Screaming-Cregar-Menacing2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/10\/I-Wake-Up-Screaming-Cregar-Menacing2.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1417\" height=\"1017\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-60687\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/10\/I-Wake-Up-Screaming-Cregar-Menacing2.png 1417w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/10\/I-Wake-Up-Screaming-Cregar-Menacing2-300x215.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/10\/I-Wake-Up-Screaming-Cregar-Menacing2-1024x735.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/10\/I-Wake-Up-Screaming-Cregar-Menacing2-128x92.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/10\/I-Wake-Up-Screaming-Cregar-Menacing2-768x551.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/10\/I-Wake-Up-Screaming-Cregar-Menacing2-376x270.png 376w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1417px) 100vw, 1417px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8212; perfectly cast here as a menacing police detective who lurks around every street corner, shows up unannounced in suspects&#8217; apartments, and mutters with deadpan certainty in response to Grable&#8217;s rhetorical question: <\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong>Grable:<\/strong> &#8220;What&#8217;s the good of living without hope?&#8221;<br \/>\n<strong>Cregar:<\/strong> &#8220;It can be done.&#8221; <\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>We believe him instantly. Meanwhile, Mature and Grable are solid romantic sleuthing leads:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/10\/I-Wake-Up-Screaming-Gable-Mature.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/10\/I-Wake-Up-Screaming-Gable-Mature.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1377\" height=\"1031\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-60685\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/10\/I-Wake-Up-Screaming-Gable-Mature.png 1377w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/10\/I-Wake-Up-Screaming-Gable-Mature-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/10\/I-Wake-Up-Screaming-Gable-Mature-1024x767.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/10\/I-Wake-Up-Screaming-Gable-Mature-128x96.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/10\/I-Wake-Up-Screaming-Gable-Mature-768x575.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/10\/I-Wake-Up-Screaming-Gable-Mature-361x270.png 361w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1377px) 100vw, 1377px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>and Landis (check IMDb for more on her tragic personal story) is effective as the aspiring starlet who propels the entire story into motion. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/10\/I-Wake-Up-Screaming-Landis.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/10\/I-Wake-Up-Screaming-Landis.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1372\" height=\"1026\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-60684\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/10\/I-Wake-Up-Screaming-Landis.png 1372w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/10\/I-Wake-Up-Screaming-Landis-300x224.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/10\/I-Wake-Up-Screaming-Landis-1024x766.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/10\/I-Wake-Up-Screaming-Landis-128x96.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/10\/I-Wake-Up-Screaming-Landis-768x574.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/10\/I-Wake-Up-Screaming-Landis-361x270.png 361w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1372px) 100vw, 1372px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Listen for interesting use of &#8220;Over the Rainbow&#8221; as Grable&#8217;s theme song (!). <\/p>\n<p><strong>Note:<\/strong> The film&#8217;s original title &#8212; until close to its release &#8212; was <em>Hot Spot<\/em>, hence the alternate title on the movie poster included in this review. The last-minute switch in names is unfortunate, since no character ever &#8220;wakes up screaming&#8221; in the film, and this title leads one to believe it&#8217;s a horror film rather than <em>noir<\/em>. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Redeeming Qualities and Moments: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Laird Cregar as Detective Cornell<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/10\/i-wake-up-screaming-cregar2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/10\/i-wake-up-screaming-cregar2.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"400\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-12799\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Stunning noir cinematography<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/10\/i-wake-up-screaming-cinematography3.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/10\/i-wake-up-screaming-cinematography3.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"400\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-12800\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/10\/i-wake-up-screaming-cinematography4.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/10\/i-wake-up-screaming-cinematography4.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"400\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-12801\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/10\/i-wake-up-screaming-cinematography6.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/10\/i-wake-up-screaming-cinematography6.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"400\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-12802\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Plenty of enjoyable one-liners:<br \/>\n<blockquote><p>&#8220;Why should I go on slinging hash when I can sling other things?&#8221;<br \/>\n&#8220;I wouldn&#8217;t be in your shoes for all the gold in Kentucky.&#8221;<br \/>\n&#8220;Must be a great life &#8212; like a garbage man, only with people.&#8221;<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nYes, simply for its stunning <em>noir<\/em> visuals and for Cregar&#8217;s performance. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Categories<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Noteworthy Performance(s)<\/li>\n<li>Representative Film<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0033740\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/movies.nytimes.com\/movie\/review?res=9A04E4D61639E03BBC4F52DFB7668389659EDE\">NY Times Original Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tcm.com\/tcmdb\/title\/78883\/i-wake-up-screaming#articles-reviews?articleId=1008237\">TCM Article<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.nysun.com\/arts\/glossy-perfection\/33883\/\">New York Sun Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.dvdtalk.com\/dvdsavant\/s2026wake.html\">DVD Savant Review<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;She had youth, looks, a good figure. What more do you want? Synopsis: When an aspiring model (Carole Landis) is killed, her sister (Betty Grable) and her agent (Victor Mature) are questioned by a menacing police detective (Laird Cregar); meanwhile, they try to solve the murder mystery, and find themselves falling in love. Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors: Amateur Sleuths Aspiring Stars Betty Grable Films Carole Landis Films Detectives and Private Eyes Elisha Cook Jr. Films Flashback Films Laird Cregar&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=12652\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-12652","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-reviews"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12652","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=12652"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12652\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":60688,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12652\/revisions\/60688"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=12652"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=12652"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=12652"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}