The Woman on Pier 13 (1949) Laraine Day, Robert Ryan, John Agar, Thomas Gomez Movie Review

The Woman on Pier 13 (1949)   3/53/53/53/53/5


Robert Ryan and Laraine Day in The Woman on Pier 13 (1949)

Blackmailed Again

Brad Collins (Robert Ryan) and Nan Lowry (Laraine Day) hardly knew each other but so in love that they quickly got married. But Brad has a secret as he use to be Frank Johnson a paid up member of the Communist party whilst also having once dated Christine Norman (Janis Carter) who still is very much a part of the Communist party and who has got her claws in to Nan's brother Don (John Agar), trying to seduce him in to joining up. On top of all this Brad has to deal with being blackmailed by those who know who he once was in to stalling union negotiations where he works.

Quite simply unless you are a fan on this movie's stars "The Woman on Pier 13" is just a typical thriller from the late 40s using Communism as its basis of evil. As such I have to say I found it hard to be enthralled by this story which sees former member of the party, Brad, have his life turned upside down by those who will blackmail because of his one time association. Maybe back in the 1940s this had a lot more power with it then being a current issue but watched now it just comes across like a blackmail movie involving some mob like heavies and a seductress who uses her charms to lure men in to joining the evil party.

It is why I said that "The Woman on Pier 13" is a movie for those watch because of one of its stars and there are a few. John Agar is youthful; Janis Carter is seductive whilst Laraine Day whilst still having a touch of glamour is more homely. But this movie is a vehicle for Robert Ryan and to have him play a hero who comes good before the movie is over. The thing is that whilst Ryan delivers an effective performance and looks handsome it is all so generic and like this movie forgettable.

What this all boils down to is that "The Woman on Pier 13" is a typical 1940s thriller with an okay story, okay performances and a not displeasing look but it is only typical, so unless you watch out of being a fan of the star it isn't the sort of movie you will feel a need to watch again.


LATEST REVIEWS