Moonrise (1948)

A tortured young man (Dane Clark) is stigmatized because of his father who was convicted and hanged for murder. In a fit of rage, he kills one (Lloyd Bridges) of his tormentors and attempts to hide the body. But as the law slowly closes in around him, he attempts to come to terms with his legacy. Based on the novel by Theodore Strauss and directed by Frank Borzage (7TH HEAVEN). This noir-ish crime film is atypical of Borzage's filmography. Indeed, unlike most film noirs, its ending isn't fatalistic, there are no femme fatales and a positive future seems to lie ahead for its protagonists. The entire movie is filmed in the studio and the film uses sound stage exteriors, even the woods and swamps as well as an "outdoor" carnival. This, along with John L. Russell's (PSYCHO) B&W cinematography gives the film an expressionistic, almost surreal look. Dane Clark doesn't quite have the acting chops (John Garfield was originally penciled in when William Wellman was on board to direct) to inhabit the complexities of his character. I'm not as enamored of it as its critical reputation would suggest, but definitely worth checking out. With the lovely sad eyed Gail Russell, Ethel Barrymore (third billed but only shows up in the last 10 minutes), Allyn Joslyn (excellent), Rex Ingram and Selena Royle.