The Man Who Cheated Himself (1950) is a searing film noir featuring Lee J. Cobb, Jane Wyatt and John Dall, who step into the dark side of the city of San Francisco. Watch this classic of the public domain about love, crime, and betrayal all online, free.
Introduction
The Man Who Cheated Himself (1950) is probably one of the noir movies that choose to address the theme of moral conflict and urban tension in the most effective way possible. Directed by a filmmaker Felix E. Feist, this crime atmospheric drama is starred by Lee J. Cobb who plays the role of a hardened detective, who finds himself in a trap of lies, love, and guilt. It is a must-see due to its dramatic San Francisco action and the overwhelming performances of the movie, which is remarkable to all who appreciate the traditional noir cinema.
Plot Summary
Socialite Lois Frazer (Jane Wyatt) is in the process of divorcing her opportunistic husband, Howard Frazer (Harlan Warde), and finds out that he has bought a gun. Lois, panicking, shoots him — in full view of her lover, Lt. Ed Cullen (Lee J. Cobb) a respected homicide detective.
Between loyalty and passion, Cullen commits the fatal mistake of burying the murder. He gets rid of the weapon and conceals the corpse, but gets eventually called upon to solve the case with his younger brother Andy Cullen (John Dall), a novice detective with a lot to prove.
As facts start to emerge and the murder weapon is discovered in relation to another murder, the lies of Ed begin to be exposed. Strong instincts of his brother result in a serious conflict under the Golden Gate Bridge, one of the most memorable noir finales. Ultimately, the moral corruption that is the hallmark of the genre is reflected in the downfall of Ed that leaves viewers with a chilling image of the ease with which good men can fall.
Cast Highlights
- Lee J. Cobb as Lt. Edward Cullen
- Jane Wyatt as Lois Frazer
- John Dall as Andy Cullen
- Harlan Warde as Howard Frazer
- Tito Vuolo as Pietro Capa
- Marjorie Bennett, Charles Arnt and others in supporting roles.
The movie directed by Felix E. Feist has the advantage of authentic San Francisco setting, and skilled cinematography that optimally fits its dark and thrilling theme.
Genre & Key Themes
The Man Who Cheated Himself is a film that fallsmasly into the genre of film noir – it is morally ambiguous, filled with femme fatales, and the result of lying. The plot is driven by the themes of corruption, brotherhood and self destruction, and the fog covered streets in the city enhance the feeling of despair in the story.
Why It’s Worth Watching Today
More than seventy years after its publication, The Man Who Cheated Himself still impresses by its taut pacing and emotionalism. The film has received acclaim due to the interesting direction and good acting with critics such as Dennis Schwartz terming it as the best film to start the flavorless Dwight D. Eisenhower years.
More Read
The fact that it has its natural San Francisco settings, is psychologically taut, and raises some perennial moral concerns makes it one of the best crime films of the early 1950s -and a must-see film on the list of any person who wants to see a classic noir.
🏛️ See Also
- Angel on My Shoulder (1946): Watch Paul Muni Outwit Satan in This Free Noir Fantasy
- Texas Terror (1935): Watch John Wayne’s Gritty Early Western Free Online
- McLintock! (1963) – John Wayne’s Wildly Funny Western Rom-Com
Watch or Download
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Full length film, The Man Who Cheated Himself film, The Man Who Cheated Himself 1950, movies of Lee J. Cobb, Felix E. Feist, film noir, film noir in San Francisco, Jane Wyatt, free films, classic movies, old films, classic film noir, film noir 1950s.
