The Company She Keeps (1951)

To me, this movie is perfection.

Pretty good movie overall. First half was nothing special but it got better as it went along.

what a terribly boring film. I'm sorry but this is absolutely not deserving of best picture and will be forgotten quickly. Entertaining and engaging cinema? No. Nothing performances with flat faces and mistaking silence for subtlety.

There's no way I can possibly love it entirely but I just think its ridiculously bad, but enjoyable at the same time.

This film does not fall short by any means. The Company She Keeps is a story of a young woman's plight named Diane Stuart (played by Jane Greer) that lands her behind bars on more than one occasion and when the opportunity for parole arises she has developed such a defeatist attitude that she feels she is fighting everyone in the (in)justice system. If Diane did not have bad luck she would have no luck at all. Once out of prison she visits with her parole officer Joan Willburn (played by Lizabeth Scott) and by accident or intention Diane finds the man of her dreams a newspaper columnist named Larry Collins (played by Dennis O'Keefe).The three main characters in this film, Diane Stuart (ex-con), Joan Wilburn (parole officer), and Larry Collins (newspaper columnist) form the love triangle that has deception written all over this screen play. Lies, lies, lies, or is it just that each person is reluctant to hurt the others feelings? As the film progresses we the audience realize that even female paroled prisoners are still considered ex-cons and their life is subjected to hell, especially in the year 1951 which is when this film was released. Truth be told, the rights and freedoms of ex- cons has not progressed much over the past 70 odd years.Inevitably Diane finds herself in a police line-up once again for nothing at all and she realizes her life is crap and any chance of true love, life and freedom was nothing more than a pipe dream. I won't spoil the film for anyone, but I will say that the director John Cromwell provided the audience with a surprise ending that should make most of his audience leaving the movie theater with a lot to talk about. The performances of Lizabeth Scott, Jane Greer, and Dennis O'Keefe were top notch. After close to 70 years since the films release I felt the film still contains a lot of human interest as it relates to crime and punishment.I give the film 4**** of 5*****.

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

SPOILERSWhen the movie begins ,we side with Diane/Mildred ,we pity her lack of luck,her miserable childhood;and we think that THAT lady (Mrs Wilburn) will tear her to pieces when she knows the truth about her love affair .The unfortunate ex-convict has fallen in love with her parole officer's squeeze!But it's not what you expect;in fact ,as the movie progresses,the parole officer's morale stature and dignity constantly grows and Lizabeth Scott ,in the second part ,really steals the show from talented Jane Greer.Dennis O'Keefe,on the other hand ,seems too old for the part of a young suitor.This is nonetheless a moving absorbing movie,with a subject which is still topical,even though it simplifies the matters.Recommanded

Model prisoner Mildred Lynch(Jane Greer)receives an early parole from the State Prison for Women. She served her two years for forging checks and convinced the board of her changed ways. As part of her parole she must stay in contact with parole officer Joan Wilburn(Lizabeth Scott), who wants to befriend Mildred, who wants to start fresh with the changed name of Diane. Joan realizes the parolee has a chip on her shoulder and is very paranoid. None the less, Diane finds an apartment and a job at the hospital on the night shift. She meets a handsome hospital visitor, reporter Larry Collins(Dennis O'Keefe)and practically forces him to fall in love with her. There is a problem here with the fact that Larry is already in a relationship with Joan...yes, Diane's parole officer. Diane manages to hide the facts from Larry that she has been in prison and that she knows he and Joan have history. Scott and Greer are notable in their roles. Other players include: Fay Baker, Don Bledsoe, Bert Freed, and Irene Tedrow.