Moviecut—The Velvet Touch

source: The Velvet Touch

The Velvet Touch

Vintage film buffs are here offered a cast to die for from the top-billed Roz Russell through Leon Ames, Clare Trevor and Sydney Greenstreet, who turns up four and a half reels in and immediately embarks on a cat-and- mouse duel with Russell. Although there have been a sprinkling - Stage Door, Morning Glory, All About Eve - the theatre hasn't featured too often in film so The Velvet Touch fills an all-too real gap. God knows how much Sardi's shelled out for product placement but it was worth it for the theatre-buff viewers who will lap up the atmosphere. The plot fits where it touches but this time around it's a case of the whole is bigger than the sum of its parts.

This is a highly entertaining film with a great cast. Its major flaw is that Rosalind Russell was not willing to go full out villian. It was made by her production company and I assume she had her character dilluted. It is still a fun watch.

Rosalind Russell was one of Hollywood's most talented actresses and this movie puts her through all the emotions. She has witty lines, ala Auntie Mame and heart-wrenching scenes as when a cast member commits suicide. A very good and different script by Leo Rosten helps make for a plausible and entertaining film. All of the cast is great, including Claire Trevor who, if she hadn't won for "Key Largo" the same year, should have been nominated for her small but very effective part. But, it's Russell's film and she gives another great dramatic performance. Enjoy this highly underrated film. Like "Repeat Performance" from the same year, you won't forget this film.

Sydney Greenstreet and his loud, frequent guffaw (6 years after Maltese Falcon and Casablanca) plays Captain Danbury trying to track down a murderer, with a few twists and turns. Viewers will recognize Gordon Dunning, played by Leon Ames, who often had roles of authority, -- the sheriff, the DA, the commissioner, the captain on a ship. Rosalind Russell (10 years after playing Sylvia Fowler in "The Women") plays Valerie Stanton, a stage actress ( although Agnes Moorhead would also have been PERFECT for this role). Leo Genn, Claire Trevor (Key Largo, The High & Mighty), Frank McHugh, and Walter Kingsford also play very believable characters. Note also Theresa Harris, the dresser, who was also in "The Women" with RR. Good solid story from 1948, no obvious plot-holes.

At first, THE VELVET TOUCH seems like it will be a traditional noirish murder mystery, with a sinister slaying at a theatre followed by a detective investigation into the various suspects. But no, we learn the identity of the murder at the beginning and the film instead becomes a character drama as we learn what the effects of guilt and suspicion have on a person. Unfortunately I found this film to be entirely routine and, it has to be said, dated. The acting is over the top, with exaggerated mannerisms from the likes of Rosalind Russell, although Claire Trevor (LADY OF DECEIT) is better in support. After the opening murder not much really happens and the script just isn't engaging or the characters authentic enough to care about. I'm slowly becoming a fan of films from this era but THE VELVET TOUCH is the one that's left me cold so far.

Don't miss this! The incomparable Roz, totally believable as a Broadway legend. What a delight to see her playing off the underrated, irreplaceable Claire Trevor. Clever mystery set in the environs of the theater with a real feel for atmosphere. It really seems like it was filmed on location on not on RKO soundstages. That is always one of the real treats of unappreciated the RKO product. Throw in a sly performance from Greenstreet. This one is a real gem!

As always, Rosalind Russell gives a superb performance in "The Velvet Touch." She gets a lot of great support from veteran pro Claire Trevor, who is on to her as well as Leo Genn and Leon Ames. As Valerie Stanton, an ambitious actress who knows her craft quite well, Russell etched a memorable portrait of a woman bent on self-destruction. She knows that she can switch from comedy to drama and she will do anything to prove the point. Of course, killing Ames is by accident, but it happened and she did cover it up. Genn loves her as tragically reveals that he knows what she has done. Sidney Greenstreet plays the police inspector with that Peter Falk-like Columbo attitude. He is polite but yet knows that something is amiss with Valerie. Leave it to Roz Russell to play that ending scene while waiting in the wings is Greenstreet. He is ready to escort her to a new destination. Yet, he allows her to take her final bows. Bravo!