One of the best Marilyn Monroe films you never knew existed, this taut thriller about one woman’s dangerous unraveling exemplifies what made Monroe such a heartbreaking, sensitive performer.
Hoping to reconcile with his girlfriend Lyn (Anne Bancroft in her screen debut), pilot Jed Towers (Richard Widmark) arrives at the hotel where she works only to be rebuffed. Meanwhile, a fragile young woman named Nell Forbes (Marilyn Monroe) is trying to get a fresh start in life after being in a sanitarium by babysitting for one of the hotel’s families. Striking up a flirtation with Jed, Nell slowly becomes more dangerous as her grasp on reality begins to loosen, revealing a haunting, surprisingly tender portrait of trauma unlike anything else Monroe put on celluloid. [76 min; film noir; English]
“A brisk 76-minute running time is all that's required for this nifty thriller to take the stage, impress the audience, and exit with style.” – Matt Brunson, Film Frenzy
“Takes what could have been a lurid plot and turns it into a wickedly plotted thriller that remains an overlooked high point in Monroe's storied career.” – Mattie Lucas, From the Front Row
“A snappy little 76-minute, black-and-white item, this film noir dared to look at the dark side of Monroe's giggly sex appeal.” – Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid
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