EXPERIMENT PERILOUS (1944) **1/2 It must be weird and wonderful having an eye like Jacques Tourneur, or Roman Polanski, eyeballing in on cheekbones and looking at buildings from strange angles. But does it lead to surrounding oneself with interesting nuts? Jacques opens with a scene of a train at night time in the rain and is typically relentless with great shots and shapes and shadows. His presentation of Heddy Lamarr's eyes is exquisite, and he frames an incredible shot of George Brent's head and a Greek sculpture. New York in the snow is a nice palette but the script, yeah I know-it's too demanding to want a good story when Tourneur is at the helm-turn the sound off if there's a problem...the script ain't all that much, none of the characters are drawn as particularly appealing or revulsing, none of the acting is at all memorable, it's only slightly suspenseful and not as scary.... The psychological overtones, though rudimentary, were no doubt ahead of the curve for their time and just because there are Ferraris is no reason not to admire the steam engine.
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