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On TCM Now: Outrage (1950)

As of this writing (November 8th), it is a couple of hours (2:45PM Eastern) until TCM will feature Ida Lupino’s 1950 film Outrage as part of their series Pioneers: First Women Filmmakers on TCM. When I saw this title pop up on the programming schedule, I was quite happy. For anyone who has been on my site regularly over the past decade, you may be aware that I have previously expressed my admiration for the work Ida Lupino produced in her role(s) of writer/director (click here for a sampling).

Outrage directed by Ida Lupino

It was at this past year’s TCM Film Festival at the historic Grauman’s Egyptian that I had the honor of seeing Outrage for the first time ever, and on the big screen, no less. Sure, it was heavy viewing for a Saturday morning at 11:30, but I tell you it was well worth it.

Directed by Ms. Lupino and co-written with producers Malvin Wald and her then-husband Collier Young, Outrage tells the tale of a young woman, Ann (Mala Powers) and the aftermath of her assault.

After this incident, the remainder of the film is spent walking the audience through Ann’s trauma (and post-trauma) and its impact on her interactions with the relationships.

Tough Subject, Truthfully Told

Even before seeing the film, I was drawn by the fact of the topic being presented (sexual assault/rape). My general knowledge of how Hollywood productions were managed under the Hayes Code at that time led me to understand the uniqueness of this film at this time. Rarely, if ever did films deal with rape in such a direct and raw manner.

Coming out of the screening, I was touched by what I had just seen and it really got me thinking. What jumped off the screen for me goes beyond the fact that she was a female making a film about such a “controversial” topic. Sure, crimes of this nature disproportionately affect women, but what I was emotionally moved beyond that simple point of fact. At many times, Outrage penetrated what I can only describe as my own imagined “narrative barrier” to really delve into the psyche and internal monologue of a person who has gone through this agonizing process of grief, horror and pain. In other words, it felt very personal.

Where to Watch

If you get the chance to, I encourage you to set your DVRs or catch it on the Watch TCM App, where I assume it will be available*. But if you aren’t able to that way, I suggest a Google search might be your friend to find out more about this film I consider a must-see.

I close with a few other write-ups which provide a greater level of detail about Outrage.

The latter article in particular, written more recently in the context of the #MeToo movement, adds another layer to the conversation of sexual assault in society and also how it is portrayed in our media.

* If you are fortunate enough to live in the greater New York area, this weekend Film Forum just happens to be screening Outrage as part of their Ida Lupino 100 series (November 9-22).

Recommended titles:

  • As a Director and/or Writer: The Hitch-Hiker, Hard Fast and Beautiful, The Bigamist (featuring Joan Fontaine and Edmund O’Brien), The Trouble with Angels (featuring Hayley Mills and Rosalind Russell)
  • As a Featured Performer: The Hard Way, On Dangerous Ground, Women’s Prison and High Sierra.

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Tuesday’s Overlooked: The Bigamist (1953)

This week’s pick for my overlooked film features two of my favorite ladies in classic film – Ida Lupino and Joan Fontaine. The film’s title is The Bigamist, directed by Lupino (who also co-starred in it) and written/adapted by Collier Young. Also starring in this drama are Edmund Gwenn and Edmond O’Brien.

 

PLOT

Married couple Harry and Eve (O’Brien and Fontaine) want to adopt a child but must they must pass muster with adoption investigator Jordan (Gwenn).

During his investigation, Jordan discovers that Harry’s frequent trips out of town are a consequence of another relationship he is maintaining with Phyllis (Lupino), who has a child by him. Before Jordan is about to call the police to arrest Harry on a charge of ‘bigamy,’ Harry tells Jordan and us, in the form of flashback, how he got himself into this precarious situation. The climax to the proceedings is a courtroom scene, which leaves the audience wondering what will come of the key players.

This film definitely had noir-ish feel to it – I suppose that is mainly down to the low production values and Gwenn’s investigative angle; however, The Bigamist mostly played like a rather complicated romantic drama. I also liked the ambiguous ending. Principally my point in highlighting this film, like I did with Lupino’s The Hitch-Hiker, I always like to call attention to the female creative force that was Lupino, a woman who was producing films at a time when this was basically unheard of.

Now for a bit of trivia – the writer Collier Young was married to Fontaine at the time of this film; he was previously married to Lupino. Go figure.

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If you enjoyed finding out about this title, be sure to visit Todd Mason’s blog, Sweet Freedom, for additional titles.

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Tuesday’s Overlooked Film: The Hitch-Hiker

Chalk up another entry for Todd Mason’s ongoing blogging series, “Tuesday’s Overlooked Films.” This week’s selection is a classic noir from Anglo-American actress and (this time) DIRECTOR Ida Lupino.

As the opening sequences state, this film is based on a true story of two average guys, who pick up a mysterious hitch-hiker on their way to Mexico, where they a relaxing weekend of fishing. What they get unfortunately is something totally unexpected that puts their lives in imminent danger.

There may be some dispute as to whether or not this is the first film noir made by a woman; one thing is for certain: you cannot argue that this is one of the more solid offerings of the genre. As many noirs are, Hitch-Hiker is a low-budget B-film. So if you look at “bang for the buck” this film really delivers.

I also selected this film because for many filmgoers, they may not know who Ida Lupino is. She was born in the United Kingdom to a famous acting dynasty and studied at RADA. The silver screen came calling and she headed to Hollywood, where by my estimation her talent was on full display in films such as On Dangerous Ground, High Sierra and Road House. According to Wikipedia, for turning down a film role, she was placed on suspension which lead her to take a stab at directing.

As a director, the subject matter for his films was somewhat cutting edge for the time. Other films of note are The Bigamist, Hard Fast and Beautiful and Outrage.

Even if you are not interested or able to catch any of her films, I urge you to take a look at Ida Lupino simply as a biography and history of pioneers in cinema’s history.

One final note: in 1998, The Library of Congress of the United States’ National Film Registry seleted this film as cultural, historical or aesthetically significant.

 

Main Cast:

  • Edmond O’Brien as Roy Collins
  • Frank Lovejoy as Gilbert Bowen
  • William Talman as Emmett Myers
  • José Torvay as Captain Alvarado

Sources: Wikipedia, National Film Registry

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