The Accused (1949)

Forties Noir - The Accused review by Steve

Offbeat thriller which loads its noir atmospherics with a lot of psychological jargon but is ultimately just a provocative, compelling murder story. Loretta Young stars as psychology professor who kills a student in self defence during an attempted rape. She is investigated by Wendell Corey while she romances the dead man's lawyer/social worker (Robert Cummings).

Obviously this is sensitive material for postwar Hollywood, and there is evidence of the Production Code all over this. The narrative focuses on the fragile and unravelling mental state of the academic. Which may seem like the victim of a sexual assault is judged guilty of the crime of being desired by a sociopath...

And some of the attitudes are dated, but the narrative argues in her favour and is sympathetic to her cause. William Dieterle creates considerable suspense with plenty of style. It looks wonderful with a nice feel for '40s coastal California. There's a nuanced script and fine performances, particularly from Young in a demanding role.

The early scenes with the narcissistic undergraduate (Douglas Dick) manipulating his victim, are difficult to watch. He's such an odious creep. Once he's out of the picture, there's a murder mystery with illustrations of realistic police procedures and insights into the criminal mind. This unusual thriller seems to have vanished, but it's worth seeking out.