The Company She Keeps (1951)

The Company She Keeps is directed by John Cromwell and written by Ketti Frings. It stars Lizabeth Scott, Jane Greer and Dennis O'Keefe. Music is by Leigh Harline and cinematography by Nicholas Musuraca.Released from prison after serving two years, Mildred Lynch (Greer) changes her name to Diane Stuart and sets out for a new start in Los Angeles. Assigned a friendly parole officer, Joan Willburn (Scott), who finds Diane work in a local hospital, Diane struggles to take to Joan and suffers from paranoia as to how the public are going to perceive her. Things get considerably murkier when Diane begins a love affair with Joan's boyfriend, Larry Collins (O'Keefe)…A waste of potential, a film featuring two noir darlings and one tough guy noir actor should have more about it than merely playing out as a weak willed melodrama. The annoyance is further compounded by the fact that ace cinematographer Musuraca works his magic for many passages of the story, putting tightly fitted noir visuals to scenes involving prison cells and the darker recesses' of the hospital where Diane works. In fact the last twenty minutes, guff laden ending not withstanding, is worth time spent with picture purely because of Musuraca.It's not as if the acting is bad, where even though I agree wholeheartedly with those who think Greer and Scott should have swapped roles, both the girls do good work here, as does O'Keefe, who has the problem of having both Greer and Scott lusting after him! But nobody is done any favours by Harline's score, the usually skilled composer lays over the top of proceedings a score that would be more at home in a 1940s romantic comedy.Where there should be intelligent observations on the justice system, and the problems of parolees fitting back into society, there is instead a love triangle that lacks any suspense or a semblance of edginess, the writer evidently afraid to spice things up and do justice to the noir potential of the idea.Fans of the leading ladies and Musuraca should just about find it watchable, but frustration is almost certainly guaranteed as well. 5/10

The film begins with the parole board meeting at a woman's prison. They are discussing Diane Stuart's case. She's granted parole and moves to Los Angeles. Once there, she's met by her new parole officer, Joan Wilburn (Lizbeth Scott). The p.o. is VERY positive and friendly--unrealistically so, actually. She seems more like a cheerleader than an officer of the court. All this occurs while Diane acts as if she'd rather be anywhere than with Joan. Pleasant, she is not.While Diane does okay on parole, she is a conniver. When she sees Joan with her boyfriend, Larry (Dennis O'Keefe), she decides to get him for herself and slowly he falls for her. However, unexpectedly, she falls for him as well. Here is where is gets more ridiculous--Joan isn't thrilled by all this but is super-supportive and pushes to get the pair permission to marry. As for Diane, she's broken-hearted and expects the worst. What's next?When the film began, I loved Greer's character. She was wonderfully noir--with a bad attitude and a hard edge. But, when she suddenly actually fell for Larry AND her p.o. was so supportive, the film felt very sappy...and lame as well as VERY inconsistent. Up until then, I would have given this one an 8 or 9. How could they have screwed up so badly?!

Diane Stewart has had a lot of obstacles to get over in her life. She started on the wrong side of the law early in life, something that lands her in jail. As her case is reviewed, she is granted a parole status and she must be monitored during this important period of her rehabilitation. Diane ends up working in a hospital where another woman, Tillie, also a parolee is also sent. While Diane rebels, at first, she undergoes a change of heart, while Tillie, a hardened petty criminal goes back to his old tricks.The kind Joan Wilburn, a parole officer, is in charge of Diane's case. As soon as Diane is out, she sets her eyes on the hunky Larry Collins, who happens to be Joan's boyfriend. It's clear the feeling is mutual. What can Joan do, fight for her man, or give up her relationship with Larry? That decision makes Joan a better person and Diane finally understands her mentor's sacrifice.John Cromwell directed with his usual style. By going against typecasting, he achieves some interesting acting from his two leading ladies. Lizabeth Scott, who usually played tough women, is seen as Joan Wilburn, a nice person who understands Diane Stewart's tragic life. Jane Greer, on the other hand, starts as a rough girl until she falls in love for Joan's man. Dennis O'Keefe is Larry, the man between these two different women. Fay Baker and John Hoyt, have some good moments in the film.Although seldom seen these days, "The Company She Keeps" shows some interesting locations in Los Angeles that have a nostalgic look as seen by the lens of Nicholas Musuraca, one of the best camera men working in Hollywood of that era.

Lizabeth Scott is OK here, & I'm a big fan of hers, but I would have liked her better in the role of Diane (played by Greer). Scott is just too sugary sweet in her role as a Parole Officer Angel. On the other hand, I kept waiting for Greer's character to wake up & smell the coffee, but she really never did, & that's what makes this film a cut above similar soapers of this kind. Greer is excellent as a sneering, eye-rolling bad girl who just doesn't care about those trying to help her or society, & really doesn't even care about herself. I rate it 6/10. I would have rated it higher if not for Scott's too sweet character & the happy pat en