#20 PITFALL
Pitfall is a superbly directed, brilliantly written, and sublimely acted film. It is a character driven film with insightful dialogue and underlying themes of sentiment, fatalism, desperation, and frustration wonderfully acted by Liz Scott’s portrayal of Mona Stevens with a big assist from Dick Powell as Johnny Forbes.
Dick Powell's character projects an affable, self-deprecating humor that belies his bitterness and frustration. The family breakfast that opens the film, could, with a different tone, or inflection of voice, be the beginning of a domestic comedy. But Johnny Forbes, despite a secure marriage, an admiring wife, idolizing son and a job geared for a smooth climb up the corporate ladder, is living a life of quiet desperation. He is bored with his life, his job, and his marriage. He should be happy, for that’s what everyone tells him, but he’s not.
His wife, Jane Wyatt dismisses his yearnings as wanderlust, and sees no reason to dig deeper. Forbes tells her, “You were voted the prettiest girl in the class. I was voted the boy most likely to succeed. Something should happen to people like that.” She replies, “Something did; they got married.” As far as she's concerned, they achieved the American dream.
Powell is an insurance claims adjuster whose company has contracted former cop, now private investigator, MacDonald (Raymond Burr) to track down goods bought with embezzled money. MacDonald makes his living off the heart-breaks, failures and misfortunes of others. If you were to call him odious, creepy and sleazy, he might shoot back: ‘Now tell me something I don’t know.' Unlike Forbes and Scott he knows, accepts and is content with who he is. He has tracked the goods to the embezzler's girl friend (Liz Scott) and has already staked his claim on her. “I bet you never thought of me as a man who could fall in love,” he tells Forbes, and adds, “This Mona Stevens, she’s quite a girl.” There is palpable tension in the air. Forbes isn't interested in MacDonald's heart throb, but then again he has yet to see her.
Forbes enters Scott’s unattended apartment. He is there to find items bought by her fiance, Bill Smiley with money he embezzled. Forbes sets himself down and peruses her modeling portfolio. His studious attention to her photos is reminiscent of Dana Andrews’ infatuation with the portrait of Laura; and as with Laura, Scott’s first appearance doesn't disappoint. She appears at the front door wearing white shorts displaying a nice set of legs and a slim figure. Forbes initial impression of her contrasts sharply to the last time he saw his wife; making his eggs and lovingly, yet perfunctory kissing him off to work. And to complete this grand vision Mona holds two bags of groceries against her chest. She is what Forbes and many men want; an unattached sexpot who can also cook supper.
Mona is not the quiet type. She tells him: “Make yourself at home. Sit down. Take off your hat.” And like a dutiful child, Forbes obeys. Powell catalogs the stolen items and says with all the emotion of asking for a receipt, “Believe me I don’t enjoy doing this sort of thing.” Stevens’ response is on the mark. Her measured tone lets every word sink in deeply. (see the clip below. -if you want to replay the clip and remain on the page, you will need to refresh the page, or you can go another page (recommended), return here and replay it.)
Dick Powell's character projects an affable, self-deprecating humor that belies his bitterness and frustration. The family breakfast that opens the film, could, with a different tone, or inflection of voice, be the beginning of a domestic comedy. But Johnny Forbes, despite a secure marriage, an admiring wife, idolizing son and a job geared for a smooth climb up the corporate ladder, is living a life of quiet desperation. He is bored with his life, his job, and his marriage. He should be happy, for that’s what everyone tells him, but he’s not.
His wife, Jane Wyatt dismisses his yearnings as wanderlust, and sees no reason to dig deeper. Forbes tells her, “You were voted the prettiest girl in the class. I was voted the boy most likely to succeed. Something should happen to people like that.” She replies, “Something did; they got married.” As far as she's concerned, they achieved the American dream.
Powell is an insurance claims adjuster whose company has contracted former cop, now private investigator, MacDonald (Raymond Burr) to track down goods bought with embezzled money. MacDonald makes his living off the heart-breaks, failures and misfortunes of others. If you were to call him odious, creepy and sleazy, he might shoot back: ‘Now tell me something I don’t know.' Unlike Forbes and Scott he knows, accepts and is content with who he is. He has tracked the goods to the embezzler's girl friend (Liz Scott) and has already staked his claim on her. “I bet you never thought of me as a man who could fall in love,” he tells Forbes, and adds, “This Mona Stevens, she’s quite a girl.” There is palpable tension in the air. Forbes isn't interested in MacDonald's heart throb, but then again he has yet to see her.
Forbes enters Scott’s unattended apartment. He is there to find items bought by her fiance, Bill Smiley with money he embezzled. Forbes sets himself down and peruses her modeling portfolio. His studious attention to her photos is reminiscent of Dana Andrews’ infatuation with the portrait of Laura; and as with Laura, Scott’s first appearance doesn't disappoint. She appears at the front door wearing white shorts displaying a nice set of legs and a slim figure. Forbes initial impression of her contrasts sharply to the last time he saw his wife; making his eggs and lovingly, yet perfunctory kissing him off to work. And to complete this grand vision Mona holds two bags of groceries against her chest. She is what Forbes and many men want; an unattached sexpot who can also cook supper.
Mona is not the quiet type. She tells him: “Make yourself at home. Sit down. Take off your hat.” And like a dutiful child, Forbes obeys. Powell catalogs the stolen items and says with all the emotion of asking for a receipt, “Believe me I don’t enjoy doing this sort of thing.” Stevens’ response is on the mark. Her measured tone lets every word sink in deeply. (see the clip below. -if you want to replay the clip and remain on the page, you will need to refresh the page, or you can go another page (recommended), return here and replay it.)
Her description of him hits home, and to show that he's an okay type of guy, they take Smiley's (Byron Barr) ill bought boat for an enjoyable spin on the lake. He decides not to report it and they share a drink at a cocktail lounge. Forbes asks why she got involved with Smiley. She flippantly answers, “Just lucky I guess.” Then, after a moment of reflection adds: “I liked him mostly because he was nice to me. Very few men are. That means a lot.” Mona’s not in love with Smiley. She referred to him as stupid at the apartment and later plans to dump him for Forbes. From all outward appearances Scott projects a tough, world-weary woman but her choice of words indicates a vulnerability. If all she can have is a man who is nice; then she'll have him.
They spend much of the evening at her place where nothing transpires but the Rubicon is crossed. Powell is on the verge of getting what he wants. Mona, unaware of his marriage, thinks she’s on the path of getting what she wants; a nice home, a loving husband and middle class respectability.
There is however a very big fly in the ointment by the name of J.B. MacDonald. He has already staked out Mona as his own, and will not let anyone, especially a happily married, white collar worker like Forbes, impinge upon his property. MacDonald is a low life. He knows the other side of the tracks like the back of his hand and has pegged Mona as being familiar with the same terrain.
Forbes returns to Steven’s apartment the next day to let her know MacDonald came to his office and questioned why the boat had not been listed as stolen. He tells her he had to have the boat repossessed or MacDonald could have caused trouble. “You know it’s funny,” she says, “ I meet someone who’s kind, who wants to do something nice for me and almost immediately he’s in trouble.” He doesn’t think he’s nice or kind. “Yes, you try,” she says, "You came over and told me personally, you could have told me over the phone.” This time they consummate their relationship.
Forbes’s situation escalates from almost getting into trouble to actually getting into trouble. MacDonald is aware of their tryst and confronts Forbes in his own driveway and beats him. Forbes is laid up for a few days and he decides to end it with Mona. They meet at the cocktail lounge. He says he wants to talk about a couple of things he should have mentioned before. But Stevens has already discovered he's married and cuts to the chase: “You mean like your wife and the fact you’re married?”(see clip below)
“Honestly, Johnny, aren’t you a little relieved to get out of it this easily?
this is the kind of girl you’ve always dreamed about. I’m going to let you off without an angle…What happens to men like you, Johnny?
If I had a nice home like you did I wouldn’t take a chance with it for
anything in the world.”
They spend much of the evening at her place where nothing transpires but the Rubicon is crossed. Powell is on the verge of getting what he wants. Mona, unaware of his marriage, thinks she’s on the path of getting what she wants; a nice home, a loving husband and middle class respectability.
There is however a very big fly in the ointment by the name of J.B. MacDonald. He has already staked out Mona as his own, and will not let anyone, especially a happily married, white collar worker like Forbes, impinge upon his property. MacDonald is a low life. He knows the other side of the tracks like the back of his hand and has pegged Mona as being familiar with the same terrain.
Forbes returns to Steven’s apartment the next day to let her know MacDonald came to his office and questioned why the boat had not been listed as stolen. He tells her he had to have the boat repossessed or MacDonald could have caused trouble. “You know it’s funny,” she says, “ I meet someone who’s kind, who wants to do something nice for me and almost immediately he’s in trouble.” He doesn’t think he’s nice or kind. “Yes, you try,” she says, "You came over and told me personally, you could have told me over the phone.” This time they consummate their relationship.
Forbes’s situation escalates from almost getting into trouble to actually getting into trouble. MacDonald is aware of their tryst and confronts Forbes in his own driveway and beats him. Forbes is laid up for a few days and he decides to end it with Mona. They meet at the cocktail lounge. He says he wants to talk about a couple of things he should have mentioned before. But Stevens has already discovered he's married and cuts to the chase: “You mean like your wife and the fact you’re married?”(see clip below)
“Honestly, Johnny, aren’t you a little relieved to get out of it this easily?
this is the kind of girl you’ve always dreamed about. I’m going to let you off without an angle…What happens to men like you, Johnny?
If I had a nice home like you did I wouldn’t take a chance with it for
anything in the world.”
Powell thinks he’s out of the woods, but he's not. His wife's concern over his erratic behavior is assuaged by Powell’s apparent return to normal. In the following scene he builds a model with his son as his wife washes the dinner dishes and it's as heart-warming a scene as possible. We see more of the understated self-deprecating humor that Powell is so good at, but without the bitterness that permeated the beginning of the movie.
There are two incidents regarding Tommy that brought back childhood memories. In response to Tommy, (Jimmy Hunt easily recognizable as the kid in Invaders From Mars,) having nightmares, his Mom threatens to throw out his comics. My Mom did more than threaten. Tommy, like nearly every kid of the Boomer Generation, asks his father what he did in the war. He is chagrined to learn his Dad served in Colorado. Jane Wyatt comes to her husband’s aid. She tells Tommy that Dad kept Denver safe and adds he got the good conduct medal with four oak leaf clusters. (an aside note Dobie Gillis’ Dad (Frank Faylen)) was equally proud of his good conduct medal). Tommy can’t wait to tell his friend whose Dad only got the Silver Star. His Dad tells him not to as it might sound like bragging. Forbes then chides his son for not liking where they live, and tells him that people should be grateful for what they have, and contentment is the key to life.
There are two incidents regarding Tommy that brought back childhood memories. In response to Tommy, (Jimmy Hunt easily recognizable as the kid in Invaders From Mars,) having nightmares, his Mom threatens to throw out his comics. My Mom did more than threaten. Tommy, like nearly every kid of the Boomer Generation, asks his father what he did in the war. He is chagrined to learn his Dad served in Colorado. Jane Wyatt comes to her husband’s aid. She tells Tommy that Dad kept Denver safe and adds he got the good conduct medal with four oak leaf clusters. (an aside note Dobie Gillis’ Dad (Frank Faylen)) was equally proud of his good conduct medal). Tommy can’t wait to tell his friend whose Dad only got the Silver Star. His Dad tells him not to as it might sound like bragging. Forbes then chides his son for not liking where they live, and tells him that people should be grateful for what they have, and contentment is the key to life.
Mona must still contend with MacDonald. Raymond Burr is not an agile or physical actor. He projects menace with his hulking stature and physical features that are especially effective in black and white films. He has a deep, commanding voice and doesn't need to raise it to garner attention. I found it interesting that at times he seems to be mimicking Scott’s raspy, almost whispering delivery.
He shows up at the department store fashion show and asks Mona to model a dress for him. She has to comply and he leeringly looks her over before muttering, “Yes, yes, I like it, I’ll take the dress.” He figuratively undresses her with his eyes, embarrasses her, and does so by hardly stirring in his seat.
He shows up at the department store fashion show and asks Mona to model a dress for him. She has to comply and he leeringly looks her over before muttering, “Yes, yes, I like it, I’ll take the dress.” He figuratively undresses her with his eyes, embarrasses her, and does so by hardly stirring in his seat.
Burr stalks her. She tells him: "I don't like you, I don't want you around...It won't do you any good, Mac, why don't you believe that." He tells her, "... Maybe I figure I know you better than you know yourself." The next day she reaches out to Forbes for help. Powell avenges his previous beating and warns MacDonald to say away from Mona, and to leave his family alone or he’ll kill him. But if Forbes thinks, ‘all's well that ends well,” he is wrong. Mac visits Smiley in jail and agitates the nearly hysterical man with veiled insinuations of Steven’s affair with Forbes. Smiley is apoplectic. He rages and screams. When he is released Burr gets him drunk, gives him a gun and Forbes’ home address.
Joe Smiley is the essential noir chump. He has fallen hard for Mona, who under most circumstances would hardly have given him a second thought. Stevens had told Smiley she didn’t want him to steal for her, but she kept the stolen goods until they were discovered. She stopped seeing him in jail and told a co-worker she was through with him. Forbes had used Mona Stevens and it's apparent Stevens had done the same with Smiley. For it's only when Forbes bails on her does she go back to Smiley. Mona has no one else. Mona desperately wants to leave town and start anew with Smiley, but the poor sap only wants to kill Forbes. Mona calls Johnny and warns him and Johnny kills Smiley. His wife wants an explanation.
Forbes comes clean and tells his wife about Smiley and Mona. Up until this point Jane Wyatt had little to do but play the doting, caring housewife and mother. But, when it's her turn to deliver and take over a scene she does it wonderfully. We've seen the immediate repercussions that the one night stand has had on Mona and Johnny. But they are not the only ones affected. Wyatt's reactions to Forbes' confession are like the film; subtle, with no grand movements, and chillingly effective. Her facial expressions change from relief for her husband not being harmed, to hurt then anger as she learns she was cheated on, and the killing was his fault. When he is done she is silent. Forbes blows up. “Sue, say something. Please, say something! I can’t go on with this on my conscience.”
She responds:
"Conscience! You make it sound like a dirty word. You’re worrying about
your filthy, little conscience. But I’ve got my son to think about."
She is furious and demands he says nothing about the affair.
"You’re not going to the police. You lied once, it came easy enough for you
then, you’ve got to lie now."
There may be some speculation as to why Mona warned Forbes. It is of course the correct thing to do, but Smiley is her only hope to leave town, leave MacDonald and get as close to the home and white picket fence as possible. Smiley is as effective a killer as he was an embezzler and is killed by Forbes when he enters through a window. She returns to her apartment where MacDonald is waiting. She threatens to tell the police all she knows. MacDonald says don't bother I'll do it. He calls the police. He addresses the lieutenant by his first name and they exchange pleasantries. The lieutenant tells MacDonald a prowler at Forbes' home has been shot dead. MacDonald smiles at Mona and says: "You were going to call who and tell them about me?" He starts packing her bags for their vacation as she remains seated with her eyes downcast: She says:
"Smiley wasn't a bad guy. He was a nice guy."
"It wasn't enough."
"For whom?"
"Smiley didn't have the nerve, And Forbes didn't have the chance. So, it's me you end up with."
For Mona, that's tantamount to a death sentence. She had tried her best to escape from her past and start anew. She had a nice apartment, she worked at a top flight department store as a model. For all she knew she was doing everything right. And all that led to was ending up with a guy like MacDonald. Rather than go with him she shoots him.
Joe Smiley is the essential noir chump. He has fallen hard for Mona, who under most circumstances would hardly have given him a second thought. Stevens had told Smiley she didn’t want him to steal for her, but she kept the stolen goods until they were discovered. She stopped seeing him in jail and told a co-worker she was through with him. Forbes had used Mona Stevens and it's apparent Stevens had done the same with Smiley. For it's only when Forbes bails on her does she go back to Smiley. Mona has no one else. Mona desperately wants to leave town and start anew with Smiley, but the poor sap only wants to kill Forbes. Mona calls Johnny and warns him and Johnny kills Smiley. His wife wants an explanation.
Forbes comes clean and tells his wife about Smiley and Mona. Up until this point Jane Wyatt had little to do but play the doting, caring housewife and mother. But, when it's her turn to deliver and take over a scene she does it wonderfully. We've seen the immediate repercussions that the one night stand has had on Mona and Johnny. But they are not the only ones affected. Wyatt's reactions to Forbes' confession are like the film; subtle, with no grand movements, and chillingly effective. Her facial expressions change from relief for her husband not being harmed, to hurt then anger as she learns she was cheated on, and the killing was his fault. When he is done she is silent. Forbes blows up. “Sue, say something. Please, say something! I can’t go on with this on my conscience.”
She responds:
"Conscience! You make it sound like a dirty word. You’re worrying about
your filthy, little conscience. But I’ve got my son to think about."
She is furious and demands he says nothing about the affair.
"You’re not going to the police. You lied once, it came easy enough for you
then, you’ve got to lie now."
There may be some speculation as to why Mona warned Forbes. It is of course the correct thing to do, but Smiley is her only hope to leave town, leave MacDonald and get as close to the home and white picket fence as possible. Smiley is as effective a killer as he was an embezzler and is killed by Forbes when he enters through a window. She returns to her apartment where MacDonald is waiting. She threatens to tell the police all she knows. MacDonald says don't bother I'll do it. He calls the police. He addresses the lieutenant by his first name and they exchange pleasantries. The lieutenant tells MacDonald a prowler at Forbes' home has been shot dead. MacDonald smiles at Mona and says: "You were going to call who and tell them about me?" He starts packing her bags for their vacation as she remains seated with her eyes downcast: She says:
"Smiley wasn't a bad guy. He was a nice guy."
"It wasn't enough."
"For whom?"
"Smiley didn't have the nerve, And Forbes didn't have the chance. So, it's me you end up with."
For Mona, that's tantamount to a death sentence. She had tried her best to escape from her past and start anew. She had a nice apartment, she worked at a top flight department store as a model. For all she knew she was doing everything right. And all that led to was ending up with a guy like MacDonald. Rather than go with him she shoots him.
The police are at Forbes' office the next day and he is taken to the police station. The ending is sad. When Forbes leaves the captain’s office he sees Mona escorted to another department alongside a policewoman. Her back is turned and does not see him. Forbes gives a hang dog look, and would I be wrong to think he may have may have breathed a sigh of relief? On the way home his wife admits to seriously thinking about divorce but decided not to because: “For a man who’s been a good husband except for twenty-four hours how long should a man pay for it?” Mona Stevens might like to know how long a woman should pay for it as well.
This is a film where there are no heroes. Is it possible to find sympathy for Johnny Forbes? He killed one man; a hapless sap stupid enough to get caught embezzling. He almost destroyed his marriage, and deceived a vulnerable woman all for a one night stand? And his penalty? He gets dressed down by the Captain, who would love to have jailed him for something, for anything.
Mona Stevens is the most subtle of femme fatales. She does not intentionally lead men astray nor is she out for monetary gain. All she wants is a nice guy and home with a white picket fence. But in noir, there will always be someone, or something that will try to drag you back into your past. The someone in, Pitfall, is J.B. MacDonald.
We can feel and empathize for Mona. She is engaged to a man she does not love but is nice to her, and for her that is enough. She falls for a married man she calls ‘kind’ for personally bringing her bad news. She is stalked, degraded, and classified as property by a man she loathes yet contends to know her better than she knows herself.
Thumbs up to a great film, and extraordinary performances by Dick Powell and Liz Scott. Andre DeToth directed this film with the skill of a orchestra conductor and juxtaposed the lives of the characters with the adroitness of a big top ringmaster.
Some notes:
A couple of childhood favorites had roles here. The attractive Ann Doran, played Forbes' secretary. She had quite a career. I remember Ann from Three Stooges Shorts and she had a major role in It, The Terror From Beyond Space as well as, Pride of The Marines, Fear In the Night and Rebel Without A Cause.
There is also the aforementioned Jimmy Hunt.
Some other films of DeToth are: House of Wax, Monkey on My Back, Crime Wave, and a slew of Westerns on the big screen as well as television.
This is a film where there are no heroes. Is it possible to find sympathy for Johnny Forbes? He killed one man; a hapless sap stupid enough to get caught embezzling. He almost destroyed his marriage, and deceived a vulnerable woman all for a one night stand? And his penalty? He gets dressed down by the Captain, who would love to have jailed him for something, for anything.
Mona Stevens is the most subtle of femme fatales. She does not intentionally lead men astray nor is she out for monetary gain. All she wants is a nice guy and home with a white picket fence. But in noir, there will always be someone, or something that will try to drag you back into your past. The someone in, Pitfall, is J.B. MacDonald.
We can feel and empathize for Mona. She is engaged to a man she does not love but is nice to her, and for her that is enough. She falls for a married man she calls ‘kind’ for personally bringing her bad news. She is stalked, degraded, and classified as property by a man she loathes yet contends to know her better than she knows herself.
Thumbs up to a great film, and extraordinary performances by Dick Powell and Liz Scott. Andre DeToth directed this film with the skill of a orchestra conductor and juxtaposed the lives of the characters with the adroitness of a big top ringmaster.
Some notes:
A couple of childhood favorites had roles here. The attractive Ann Doran, played Forbes' secretary. She had quite a career. I remember Ann from Three Stooges Shorts and she had a major role in It, The Terror From Beyond Space as well as, Pride of The Marines, Fear In the Night and Rebel Without A Cause.
There is also the aforementioned Jimmy Hunt.
Some other films of DeToth are: House of Wax, Monkey on My Back, Crime Wave, and a slew of Westerns on the big screen as well as television.