Angel Face

An excellent film. Very little known until now but, I would say, is one of the best films in its genre. Simmons is a perfect femme fatale here. It is also a film full of misogynist quips: "The only bad thing about America is that women get spoiled"; or "...even a woman can do it". Yeah, it's gonna be a lot of fun for your feminist friends.It's a fine movie to watch, easy to follow plot, no complications, it's fast. goes to the point and it's a thriller; in only 90 minutes approx; it goes in a blink of an eye. I wish they made all like this one.The end is one of a kind, don't miss it.

After reading the comments by those here, I placed the film in my "Wish List" here on Amazon. Last night on Turner Classic Movies they showed this movie. It was really wonderful. I enjoyed the whole cast and I agree that Robert Mitchum and Jean Simmons were perfect in these roles. While her deadly deed plays out, she sits there emotionless with cold eyes and porcelain beauty. It was somewhat chilly. Simmons usually played the sweet wife or love roles in movies. I loved seeing her in a completely different role. I definitely recommend this movie. And what a surprise ending! OMG!

What a pleasant surprise this movie was actually thrilling and shocking the ending was absolutely breathtaking it's a must-see

A fascinating melodrama, directed by Otto Preminger in a noir-ish mood, with one of the all time great shock finales. None of the characters in it are particularly likeable, so it makes for a rather cold dish in my opinion. The main flaw in this production is that the two leads, played by Jean Simmons and Robert Mitchum - both fine actors - have absolutely no chemistry together on the screen. Jean Simmons's character is cool, enigmatic, and calculating. She's wonderful here and, of course, very beautiful. (The costume people did her no favors by saddling her with ugly black wigs and those pointy, shield-like bras.) The problem is Robert Mitchum. (And I love Robert Mitchum!) The whole story hinges on him falling for Simmons in a big way and consequently acting against his better judgement, with fatal results. But here he seems to be sleepwalking through the part. They don't even seem to like each other, let alone have a grand passion. That's a serious drawback in a story like this! Think of the sparks that fly between Mitchum and Jane Greer in "Out of the Past" or between John Garfield and Lana Turner in "Postman Always Rings Twice," and then watch Mitchum and Simmons. Hmmm.....Still, quite fascinating and worth watching. Otto Preminger at the top of his game!

Don't think too hard just enjoy the twists and turns!

Great, fast and professional delivery....Super. The movie is scary if you believe in La Femme Fatale. Nicer that "Play Misty for Me" but still a great movie! It's fun to watch with girlfriends to clue them into understanding you might understand "Guile and Deception". Product is real fine.

Once again, Robt. Mitchum delivers a compelling film noir performance; this time as a poorly educated ambulance driver who spoilt, rotten (to the core) Jean Simmonds is driven to possess, whatever the obstacles. Mitchum, whose great film noir performances include: Pursued, Crossfire, Out of the Past and The Big Steal; provides an tremendous performance of a ambitious young man, who is led by Simmond's beauty to discard his girlfriend and employment to become Simmond's plaything. After a while deceipt leads to betrayal and a sticken conscious. All resulting in an unexpected resolution. Great performance by Jean Simmonds parallels that of Robert Mitchum. A great film is the result. Go see, go buy-you'll nevedr regret it.

This is the BEST Jean Simmons film! I've seen everything she ever made with the exception of "Rough Night In Jericho" and "Affair with a Stranger." Talk about great acting. She's phenomenal and Mitchum is wonderful. I had always thought she was tops in "Home Before Dark" until I saw this after many years of waiting. Having been a close personal friend of hers for thirty years, I was stunned by the calculating psychopath she played (NOWHERE near her true personality which was charming, bubbly, and sweet) as I have always found it hard to separate perfomances and the real personalities of actors. For the most part, the majority of actors can only play a variation on themselves. Well, that sure AIN'T the case here. Buy it and watch it a dozen times like I have, and you will still be amazed by Jean's versatility and abilty to keep you totally involved. ****************!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Perhaps that title should read 'Jean Simmonds, As I’ve Never Seen Her Before’, as the London-born actress (with whose extensive filmography I’ll admit I’m not overly familiar), remarkably only 23 at the time, really steals the show in this 1952 Otto Preminger 'psychological noir’. Perhaps Preminger (or his 'casters’) spotted the young Simmonds’ 'eye for surreptitious manipulation’ inherent in her portrayal of Dickens’ Estella in David Lean’s 1946 version of Great Expectations and here it is principally this tendency, mixed with her obsessive love for Robert Mitchum’s cool, ex-racing driver with ambition, Frank Jessup, that drives her complex portrayal as the 'rich little daddy’s girl’, Diane Tremayne. Preminger, of course, has history in the noir genre, not least via his masterpiece Laura (Clifton Webb being equally film-stealing there as Simmonds is here) and, whilst I would not put Angel Face quite on a par with the earlier film, its engaging, twisting (and amoral) plot and fine set of supporting performance impress greatly, as does Harry Stradling’s shadowy, deep-focus cinematography and Dmitri Tiomkin’s alternately sombre and dramatic (classical-sounding) score.The film’s depiction of jealousy, guilt and the manipulation of the judicial process also called to my mind Hitchcock’s Rebecca and Fritz Lang’s Beyond A Reasonable Doubt as the pushy (but paranoid) Diane, wrests Frank away from his current romantic interest, Mona Freeman’s level-headed Mary, apparently in order to enlist his support in plotting to do away with her wealthy step-mother, Barbara O’Neil’s Catherine. Preminger, via Frank Nugent, Oscar Millard and Ben Hecht’s mostly sharp, at times ironic, script gives us (unusually for the period) two prominent female roles, O’Neil’s unsuspecting Catherine complementing Simmonds nicely, as O’Neil’s ‘controlling better half’ walks all over Herbert Marshall’s failed novelist and 'kept man’, Charles (Marshall is typically suave and impressive in the role). Following the film’s shockingly brilliant pivotal scene half-way through, Frank and Diane find themselves thrown together once again (Frank having apparently 'sussed’ Diane’s disturbed persona), this time in a court-room, allowing Preminger to give us an intriguing forensic dissection of judicial procedure and two further impressive acting turns, Jim Backus’ prosecuting attorney, Judson and Leon Ames’ Fred Barrett for the defence.Mitchum, in typical fashion, delivers a beautifully deceptive and understated performance of cool detachment and steely pragmatism as the increasingly enlightened Frank – whose easy-going, semi-squinted stare of fascination on first encountering Simmonds’ Diane contrasts starkly with the latter’s increasingly demonic glare. A brilliantly incongruous on-screen pairing, certainly, and one that Preminger subjects to one final, spectacular narrative twist.

a good film well acted especially from jean simmons who sweet as she is always playedthe part of a femme fatale very well. Mitcham is as ever mitcham and gives a good performance. sound and vision are fine really good value.

The price was very reasonable and the quality of this DVD was excellent. The sound was very clear. I hadn't seen this movie for quite some time. It was well worth watching.

the film nevers dies. still great to this day. great acting, great for the whole family to watch.buy it now.

great film .