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 American film noir 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, having supposedly shot himself while composing the song of the film’s title, 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 Warne’s suspect number one, but of course he is soon falling for her himself. Despite a coroner’s verdict of suicide, Warne is allowed some time to investigate the case, till he annoys enough people and is dumped from the force. He’s not going to stop until he finds the killer, maybe one of the many women Vincent has loved and left, all of whom, creepily, have their pictures on his wall, and he calls by the same name, Dolores. One of the pictures is missing. The ‘Nocturne’ score on his piano is dedicated Dolores.

Nocturne is a light and entertaining film noir thriller, well written and handled, with its essentially dark tone, emphasised by Harry J Wild’s imaginative noir photography and lighting, brightened by the suspenseful handling and the knowing screenplay with tongue partly in cheek. The light breezy surface tone works surprisingly well in a case of double murder and attempted murder, with a fair bit of violence along the way too. There’s an air of danger and decadence, secrets most foul, very noir.

A well cast Raft provides a strong solid centre for the usual film noir maelstrom, relishing some fine hard-bitten dialogue, and Lynn Bari as Frances Ransom, Virginia Huston as Carol Page, Joseph Pevney as pianist accompanist Ned ‘Fingers’ Ford and bulky bruiser Erik Torp (Bern Hoffman) all give flashily stylish essential support.

Myrna Dell is especially striking as Vincent’s wise-cracking housekeeper Susan Flanders, an ex-con, so an obvious suspect an she is hauled in for questioning. Mabel Paige is outstanding as Raft’s canny and cynical mother Mrs Warne, and their amusing scenes together are among the film’s highlights.

Raft looks a bit too well heeled to be a police detective in his silk suits and impeccable collars, and maybe a bit too old for the role too, but he smooths his way through it seamlessly, gliding along like a dangerous giant lizard. Former dancer Raft even learns to dance in the movie, another highlight. The two long scenes at the end where Raft finds the second body and the third intended corpse are extremely well done, with no music, just naturalistic sounds, intensifying the tension.

There is a satisfying mystery, too, with the killer carefully concealed. What’s not to like?

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 (born 1901) dumped RKO’s choice of Jane Greer (born 1924) in favour of the older, more age appropriate Lynn Bari (born 1919), and she gives her sultry femme fatale act a good, entertaining workout. Raft also had his role reworked to be more sympathetic. Both these changes were the right moves.

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 director), 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.

Longtime Alfred Hitchcock associate Joan Harrison was signed by RKO to produce the film in October 1945, clearly an ideal choice, and filming started in May 1946.

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.

Mabel Paige (December 19, 1880 – February 9, 1954).

© Derek Winnert 2026 – Classic Movie Review 13,959

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