LIGHTNING STRIKES TWICE
US, 1951, 91 minutes, Black and white.
Richard Todd, Ruth Roman, Mercedes Mc Cambridge, Zachary Scott, Darryl Hickman, Frank Conroy, Kathryn Givney.
Directed by King Vidor.
Lightning Strikes Twice is an ordinary, enjoyable murder mystery melodrama of 1950. It is given Warner Bros. production style: music by Max Steiner, direction by King Vidor (The Big Parade, Wilson - and, at this period, Beyond the Forest and the Fountainhead). It is a star vehicle for Richard Todd who had come to prominence in Britain and had performed in The Hasty Heart. Ruth Roman was a regular Warner Bros star as was Zachary Scott. Mercedes Mc Cambridge gives another nervous tension performance. She had just won her Best Supporting Actress Oscar for All The King's Men.
The material is fairly predictable - but presented in the glossy Warner Bros style.
1. Entertaining melodrama? Murder mystery? Thriller?
2. Warner Bros. production values: black and white photography, atmosphere? Light and darkness, shadows? Guilt and innocence? The melodramatic musical score?
3. The work of King Vidor - from silent films to the 1950s, melodramas, heightened dramas, action and characters larger than life? The quality of this film within his work?
4. The title, the credits, storms? Audience expectations about Trev? The irony with the reference to Liza and her second attempt at killing?
5. Romantic melodrama? Murder? Love and fidelity? Betrayal? Murder investigation by Shelley? The melodramatic finale? The car crash? The quick resolution of all plot strands?
6. The focus on Trev: in prison, condemned to death, the visit of the priest and his apology? The flashback from the priest's point of view? Trev's reaction to his wife's death? The re-trial? The juror holding out and splitting the decision? The District Attorney freeing Trev? Shelley and her arrival, information about the murder? Her meeting with Mrs Nolan? The storm and the meeting with Trev? Her involvement in the case, its mystery? Audience sharing the mystery with her?
7. Trev and his background, orphan, brought up by the Nolans, English - education, the marriage to Lorraine, Lorraine's infidelity and evil, Liza and her infatuation, her brother and his infatuation for Lorraine? The farm, Lorraine's death? Trev's behaviour? His seeming guilt? Release, being a recluse? The encounter with Shelley? The sinister aspects of his presence, his being shunned in the town, not willing to see Mrs Nolan? Harvey bringing Shelley to him? The wedding, her fear, Liza's outburst? His rescuing Shelley, his disdain for Harvey? Future happiness?
8. Shelley and her acting background, arrival in the West, the news about the murder, Mrs Nolan and her help with the car, the encounter with Trev, her believing in him coming back to him, falling in love? Her belief, her fear on the canyon? Her encounter with Liza and her brother? Sympathy for them? Relaxation, the encounter with Trev in town, on the canyon? Her decision to leave, the Nolans pressing her to stay? The party? Harvey taking her to Trev? The wedding, her fear on the night, Liza, her rushing to the house, the struggle with Liza, her being rescued?
9. Liza and her running of the ranch, the juror, her seeming friendliness, her concern about her brother, infatuation with Trev? Her outburst against Trev? The confrontation with Shelley, the life-and-death struggle - echoing her story about her killing of Lorraine? Her concern for her crippled brother, his infatuation with Lorraine, Liza's anger? Their struggles? The car crash resolving the problems?
10. Harvey and his wealth, suave, affair with Lorraine, helping Trev, helping Shelley? His being rejected by Trev?
11. The Nolans and their concern, setting up Shelley, the suspicions about J. D. having committed the murder? The reconciliation with Trev?
12. Popular ingredients of romantic melodrama? Murder mystery? The final tying together of strands? The contribution of the priest? Themes of love, fidelity, anger, violence?
