Evening star., 1944-12-09
Keith's Offers Exciting Mystery;
Romance Blooms at Palace
BY JAY CARMODY.

Romance BlOOr
BY JAY
RKo picture Starring Edward 6. Robin
son and Joan Bennett. and featuring
Raymond Massey, produced and. written
py Nunnsly Johnson directed by Fritz
Ians' Al kel1hh qHE CAST.
Pro Prot Richard Wanley Edward 9; Robinson
District Attorney-------R Raymond Massey
The B1ackmailer- Dan Duryea
Rr sarkstans Iaas,oa r.o Edmond srson con
nspsre0r Msnssd ArEnur saefs9h Ioft
Mrs. Wanley Dorothy Peterson
Among the handful of screen
writer's who have convinced their
employers they should be allowed to
produce and Ior direct their own
scripts, one of the most able Is
Nunnally Johnson. Mr.. johnson Is
a fellow of imagination and one
who knows how to keep his values
human. Both aspects of this talent
are pleasantly evident in THE
Woman in the Window which
opened today at Keith's. Both are
profound factors in making it one
of the most urbane, battling and
humorous mysteries of the year,
one of the few things of its type
that creates gnawing, frustrated
sense on the audiences part that it
can beat the writer to solution
of the crime. Helping Mr. johnson
to create this effect is a suave cast
composed of such people as Edward
G.. Robinson, Joan Bennett, Ray
mond Massey and Dan Duryea.
If 1t merely makes the customer
angry with himself for failing to
solve the crime, or with Mr. Johnson
for having devised SO trick an end
ing for his murderouS fable, The
Woman in the Window can be
guaranteed to leave no one unmoved.
X X X
AS in the recent Laura" the per-
sons involved in The Woman in
the Window" are not the kind one
usually associates with emotions
that go SO berserk that murder
can be their only relief. Its princi-
pal settings are an exclusive mems
club and luxurious love nest in
which an international financier
nestles with his current darling
The humans chiefly involved in the
action which takes place within
these two frames are a gentle pro-
fessor of psychology, an easy-going
surgeon, an intellectual district at
torney, and the girl whose somewhat
ethereal loveliness has inspired an
artist to paint her and hang the
canvas in a prominent New York
gallery window.
Murder within the group, with its
follow-up of blackmail, ETC., is hard
ly what one would associate with
such normally restrained people.
Mr.. Johnson's imagination did go
that far, however, but an honorable
condition is imposed upon the re-
viewer not to discuss where it all
ends. RKO hopes those who see the
picture also will keep praiseworthy
silence on the same score.
1t is permissible to say, however,
that Mr. Robinson Is the psychology
professor who became enamored,
innocently in the way of psychology
professors, with Miss Bennett S
portrait. Thereafter, first thing
audiences know. she materializes
and the two of them in their loneli-
ness wander into the nearest bar
where they have several stimulating
drinks. She Is nice girl, his
professors mind tells him, and after
the drinks. he does not quibble a
bit at visiting her apartment to
see some other sketches of herself
done by the man who painted the
portrait in the window
The innocence quickly vanishes
from the adventure when the inter-
national banker, who is maintaining
the girl in such luxurious security,
shows up, explodes in volcanic
Jealousy, and is stabbed to death
by the professor Even with self
defense as an obvious motive for the
killing, the professor and the girl
conclude that it is better to con-
ceal the body than to face the re-
pugnant publicity which clearly will
follow.
Mr.. Johnson's mind turns baf-
hlngly adroit at this point in his
story into which he introduces all
the elements of a manhunt con-
Quoted on much higher plane
than is usual for such things. There
are the usual strands of hair, sleeve
ravelings, tire tracks, and other
shreds of evidence but the story
does not have the unusual aspects
that the murderer dimes each night
with his good friend. the district
attorney, and the appearance of a
upon whom the crime
could be pinned if chance should
once smile upon the professor and
the girl.
Some facile performing contrib
utes Importantly to the excited pitch
OF The Woman in the Window"
once its premise is set. Robinson is
convincing as the har-
assed professor, Miss Bennett
equally so as the girl 1t is the
portrait of a smooth, intelligent, in
exorable district attorney that Mas
sey develops, Edward Breon is
neatly counterpointed comedy char
acter as the doctor, and Thomas E.
jackson is excellent as laconic in
spector of police.
Interesting people they are, in
volved in a lot of excitement that
we should hate to spoil for any one
by adding another word at this
point.