John Carroll & Vera Ralston in "The Flame" (1947) - feat. Broderick Crawford

After George MacAllister (John Carroll) enters a Long Island apartment and murders a man, he turns to leave, but is shot by the dying man. Fatally wounded, George returns to his apartment, where he phones the police and confesses to the killing. He then opens a letter from his sweetheart, Carlotta Duval (Vera Ralston), which takes him back to the day he convinced her to marry his billionaire brother Barry MacAllister (Robert Paige), who has a terminal disease.
Despite his Aunt Margaret's (Blanche Yurka) objections, Barry had proposed to Carlotta. Later, Barry asks George what happened to the $10,000 he had given him to find the woman he loved in Paris, the nurse who had tended him after he was wounded in the war. Barry is unaware that the woman was actually Carlotta, and George admits he gambled the money away.
Outside his apartment building, when George meets a man named Ernie Hicks (Broderick Crawford), Ernie asks him to go see his sweetheart, Helen Anderson (Constance Dowling), who dances at a nearby nightclub. After her act, Helen joins them for dinner, and later meets George at his apartment, where they kiss.
Meanwhile, Barry gives Carlotta a bracelet and explains about the money he had given George, which causes Carlotta to think differently about both men. At George's apartment, Carlotta says she no longer loves him and returns home to Barry. Moments later, Ernie arrives, angry about Helene, to blackmail George, after learning that he is having an affair with the wife of a wealthy man.
Helene again visits George's apartment, where she breaks the frame holding Carlotta's picture. She then goes to Carlotta to explain her involvement with George. The next day, George visits Barry's mansion for a Christmas and asks Carlotta to leave with him, but she refuses. That night, after the rest of the guests have left, Carlotta finds George drinking downstairs. She asks for his gun, afraid that he will try to kill Barry, but he leaves.
The next morning, Carlotta leaves the house to save Barry. She goes to a church to ask for forgiveness when Barry's physician, Dr. Mitchell (Henry Travers), comes in. He decides to prescribe a long sea voyage for both of them in order to protect them from George. Carlotta returns to the house and rips up the note she had left for him. They prepare for their voyage, and Barry decides to visit George to say good-bye, so Carlotta writes George a letter begging him not to kill Barry.
At George's apartment, while he waits for police, his servant, Chang (Victor Sen Yung), brings in the homicide detective. The detective asks George why he committed the murder he reported, and he explains that he shot Ernie after he threatened to go directly to Carlotta and Barry. As George dies from his gunshot wound, Barry and Carlotta, receive a telegram from him wishing them "bon voyage" and set sail on the S. S. Queen Elizabeth II.
A 1947 American Black & White film-noir crime B-Movie produced & directed by John H. Auer, screenplay by Lawrence Kimble, story by Robert T. Shannon, cinematography byReggie Lanning, starring John Carroll, Vera Ralston, Robert Paige, Broderick Crawford, Henry Travers, Hattie McDaniel, Blanche Yurka, Constance Dowling, Victor Sen Yung, Harry Cheshire, and John Miljan. Released by Republic Pictures.
Victor Sen Yung was mostly assigned to secondary roles such as playing sons for Charlie Chan.
Constance Dowling is Doris Dowling older sister by three years. Doris appeared in "The Lost Weekend" (1945) and "The Blue Dahlia" (1946).
George MacAllister's apartment building was [photographed on location at 150 Central Park South, New York City, New York.
In terms of both budget and histrionic level, The Flame is one of the most lavish of Republic Pictures' late-1940s productions. The art direction is amazing showcasing elaborate sets with high ceilings, huge staircases and wide hallways. Studio boss Herbert Yates assembled this for his leading lady Vera Ralston. Previously, she had starred in ice skating musicals, horror-suspense dramas and westerns. But now she would be showcased, alongside frequent leading man John Carroll, in a prestigious postwar noir.
The basic plot, which has been used many times in the movies, as well as filmed under its own name, is that of Henry James' novel "The Wings of the Dove" (1902).
The title concentrates on the aspects of light in the story. While Ralston and Carroll may have been old flames, a new flame now burns for the brother. This is brought into focus during a key scene inside the family chapel, where Ralston has a heart-to-heart talk with the doctor.
Soundtrack music:
"Love Me or Leave Me" - Music by Walter Donaldson, Lyrics by Gus Kahn
Featuring complex camera moves (starting with its impressive opening shot), elegant lighting, slick art design, and first-rate cinematography, this atmospheric, dark Melodramatic postwar noir at its finest is an interesting test of the theory that in cinematic art, style matters more than story.

[@A0A4ful]

Those WWII years to 1950 films were in a league of their own. Beautifully drafted ramrod light and shadows composition ( before gritty noir ruled the 50s) alongside those cars with celebratory curves...

[@richardlee8495]

John Carroll and Vera Ralston were surprisingly good in this remarkably sophisticated noirish melodrama from Republic Pictures. they could surprise you like that, once in a while. i saw as a very young child, and it had an effect on me. it stands up well, after all these years.

[@carolleenkelmann3829]

That was definitely a unique era when Cops gave warnings instead of bookings and everything was minus the development of electronics.

[@kathybikadi9854]

Interesting twists and turns made this film a gem!

[@captainape6807]

This film ticked all the boxes.👍

[@nacholulu]

Fantastic movie, great cast.

[@RetiredSchoolCook]

Thank you Good movie

[@nicolebarnett3931]

Love the old. School house s they were huge. Staircase s fire place s beautifull

[@lakshmisabarwal8112]

Wonderful movie

[@brianpan6453]

Republic Studios didn't have a top notch reputation in Hollywood but that was a fantastic movie.

[@susanghormley1844]

Love the fabulous apartment.

[@1LSWilliam]

Hitchcockian throughout, and he would have made this love triangle even more wickedly cruel.

[@tasscat]

That was a real gem, I loved it, that George certainly was sure of himself! And I love Hattie McDaniel, despite the racial stereotyping ( I know, it WAS 1947).

[@AH-yu2pi]

Watched

[@babaji1947]

Good movie but that organ music is very annoying.

[@RideoutMr]

Cannot stand organ music

[@FlipDahlenburg]

My uncle had a kidney which made some interesting sounds...