Footsteps in the Fog (1955)

Footsteps in the Fog (1955), directed by Arthur Lubin.

A Victorian thriller. Servant Jean Simmons learns that master of the house Stewart Granger has poisoned his wife. This gives her leverage over him, which works for a while, but she had better watch her back. Difficult to do if she has fallen in love with him.

It has the outline of a better movie and some tense moments. The stars, married at the time, have chemistry together. But it would benefit from yet more gothic atmosphere and some insight into the inner lives of the characters. Too much time is spent diddling around with another pair of young lovers and we have a comic interlude with their amazing new automobile.

We're remarkably ambivalent about what ought to happen: we don't like to see a murderer escape but on the other hand he is being blackmailed, which we also hate. The innocent couple are too bland to be of interest. In the end, as always, love-crazy excuses all.

Sony DVD-R, available for rent from ClassicFlix.