Nocturne *** (1946, George Raft, Lynn Bari, Virginia Huston, Joseph Pevney, Myrna Dell, Edward Ashley, Walter Sande, Mabel Paige) – Classic Movie Review 13,959

The suspenseful and entertaining 1946 American film noir thriller Nocturne stars George Raft and Lynn Bari, with Virginia Huston, Joseph Pevney, and Myrna Dell.

Director Edwin L Marin’s 1946 RKO film Nocturne is written by Jonathan Latimer, based on a story by Frank Fenton and Roland Brown, and stars George Raft and Lynn Bari, along with Virginia Huston, Joseph Pevney, Myrna Dell, Edward Ashley, Walter Sande, and Mabel Paige.

When a womanising Hollywood composer called Keith Vincent (Edward Ashley) apparently commits suicide, police detective Lieutenant Joe Warne (George Raft) knows that it is really a case of murder. Vincent’s difficult ex-flame and bit actress Frances Ransom (Lynn Bari) is his suspect number one, but of course he is soon falling for her himself.

Nocturne is a light and entertaining film noir thriller, well written and handled, with its essentially dark tone, emphasised by Harry J Wild’s noir photography and lighting, brightened by the suspenseful handling and the knowing screenplay with tongue partly in cheek.

Raft provides a solid centre for the usual film noir maelstrom, and Lynn Bari as Frances Ransom, Virginia Huston as Carol Page, and Myrna Dell as Susan Flanders give flashily stylish essential support.

George Raft’s career was in decline, but he was still popular, and the film was popular too, and RKO recorded a profit of $568,000.

Raft dumped RKO’s choice of Jane Greer in favour of Lynn Bari and had his role reworked to be more sympathetic.

Cast: George Raft as Joe Warne, Lynn Bari as Frances Ransom, Virginia Huston as Carol Page, Joseph Pevney as Ned ‘Fingers’ Ford, Myrna Dell as Susan Flanders, Edward Ashley as Keith Vincent, Walter Sande as Police Lt Halberson, Mabel Paige as Mrs Warne, Bernard Hoffman [Bern Hoffman] as Erik Torp, Queenie Smith as Queenie, Mack Gray, Pat Flaherty, Lorin Raker, William Challee, Greta Granstedt, Lillian Bond, Carol Forman, Robert Malcolm.

Edwin L Marin, runs 89 minutes, is made and released by RKO Radio Pictures, is written by Jonathan Latimer, based on a story by Frank Fenton and Roland Brown, is shot by Harry J Wild, is produced by Jack J Gross (executive producer) and Joan Harrison, is scored by Leigh Harline and Constantin Bakaleinikoff (musical directeor0, and is designed by Albert S D’Agostino.

Release date: October 29, 1946 (US).

George Raft and Edwin Marin had just made Johnny Angel and Mr Ace.

Lynn Bari (born Marjorie Schuyler Fisher): December 18, 1919 – November 20, 1989.

Virginia Huston (born Virginia Houston): April 24, 1925 – February 28, 1981.

Myrna Dell (born Marilyn Adele Dunlap): March 5, 1924 – February 11, 2011.

© Derek Winnert 2026 – Classic Movie Review 13,959

Check out more reviews on http://derekwinnert.com