简介：Thistautlyconstructedlittlemovieshouldserveasamodelforthosemodernfilmauthorswhocannotunfoldthesimpleststorylineinlessthantwohours. ThemovieopenswithMaryKirkbeingledfromhercelltowalktothedeathchamber.SheleavesaletterforCharlesFinch,apsychologistandcriminologist.Initshehasoutlinedtheeventswhichledtohersituation.WethenseeFinchreadingthelettertoasmallgroupofreporters,supplementingitwithanaccountofhisowninvolvementintheaffair.Hisfirstpersonnarrativealternateswithflashbackdepictionoftheevents.HalfwayintothemoviehehasreachedthepointatwhichMarywasconvictedandsentencedtodeath.Thenext20minutescoverhissubsequenteffortstofindtheevidencewhichwillclearher.HestillhasnotsucceededbythetimewehavecaughtuptotheopeningofthemovieandseeMaryfinishherwalktotheelectricchair.Theremainingfewminutesareadesperateraceagainsttheclockplayedmoreorlessinrealtime. Themoviedoesnotwasteaninchoffilm.Everysceneconveysinformationandadvancestheaction,withsmoothandskillfullinks.ParticularlyeffectiveisthewayinwhichthecharacterofMary'syoungersister,Suzy,ishandled.Herappearancesarealmostalwaysincidentaltothemainaction,butasthemovieprogressesitbecomesclearthatsheissomehowcentraltothesolution. Thenatureoftheplotmeansthatthetitlecharacterplaysapassiveratherthananactiverole.JeanParkerispersuasiveinthepart,wiselyforgoingtheopportunitiesformelodramatics.MarciaMaeJones'porcelain-dollprettinessfrequentlyledtoherbeingcastasavainandfoolishlittlemadam,andherrolehereasSuzysuitshertalents.LionelAtwillmakesaconvincingsleuth,neatlyconveyingablendofscientificdetachment,humanitarianconcern,andanoccasionaltwinkleofhumour. Anybodywhothinksthat"firstclassBmovie"isanoxymoronshouldstudythisfilmandlearnbetter.…