Footsteps in the Fog (Arthur Lubin, 1955)

A solid gothic thriller in the tradition of Gaslight, Footsteps in the Fog is included in the Noir Archive Volume 2: 1954-1956 collection released by Kit Parker/Mill Creek Entertainment, the latter being my favorite DVD label ever for their hilariously cynical box sets of public domain films crammed four to a disc. In typical Mill Creek fashion, this is not a noir and, reportedly, neither are any of the others in the set. But an Amazon review says "Femme fatale versus homme fatale. Very noir." So I guess it is one after all.

Directed by Arthur Lubin (whom Sarris left out of The American Cinema, the Kiss of Death for name recognition but catnip for cinephiles searching for the next Hugo Fregonese), Footsteps in the Fog features a string of perverse twists including a move similar to the one pulled by Don Ameche to fake out Claudette Colbert in Sleep, My Love (Douglas Sirk, 1948). In fact, the film was titled I perversi in Italy. Stewart Granger and Jean Simmons both occupy the Sergis Bauer role and their deadly fireworks make for a diverting if forgettable 90 minutes. But KG users have voted it the best Lubin film so give it a shot if you want to see what stands out against the John Wayne and Abbott and Costello and Francis the Talking Mule and Mr. Ed vehicles in Lubin's filmography.
Grade: B+

P. S. According to Wiki, "Lubin was gay and for many years lived with Frank Buford."

P. P. S. Hi, Bill Travers!