The Reckless Moment (1949)

Family meets the seedy underworld in Max Ophüls' moody film noir that sees Joan Bennett's routine middle class existence shattered when she decides to hide the body of a man she believes her daughter has accidently killed. This one is notable because it's very female…

Slig001

Se eu tivesse que dar um desses cursos por internet e fosse forçado a montar só esse curso e mais nenhum outro, ele se chamaria "american materialist crime film" e seria composto por este filme, They Live by Night, Thieves’ Highway, The Prowler, Force of Evil, The Sound of…

Bruno Andrade

A significant flaw seems to undermine Lucia Harper’s perfect life: a beautiful home, two children, a kind father-in-law… who, however, has a role that is not his own. The man of the house, Lucy’s husband, is always away. During a short phone call, his voice (or, rather, his…

harrylime66

Stylistically sharp, The Reckless Moment is possibly the most underrated entry in Max Ophüls' filmography. The German-born filmmaker successfully assigns distinctive qualities of film noir imagery and designs into a tautly claustrophobic drama. It was the last of four…

Paul Elliott

It's never good when your 17-year old daughter's scumbag boyfriend ends up dead and you're forced to cover it up, run a household, and be smitten by James Mason.

Justin Decloux

“The Reckless Moment” was director Max Ophüls’ last American film, and from its quality in comparison to his other output... he made it back to his safe European home just in time.  “Moment” is a partner piece to Ophüls’ other noir made-in-exile, “Caught.” Both feature…

theriverjordan

The Reckless Moment. Such a great film. Great writing too: one knows it from the moment Bennett returns from disposing of a body and tells her son to roll down his pant legs. Once Mason arrives and the family naturally integrates him, the counterpoint between appearances…

sallitt

“You don’t know how a family can surround you at times.” Mommy Joanie Bennie says roll up the hose, put on your evening slippers, and stop taking so much butter. More importantly, she’s scolding her daughter’s creepy older boyfriend and dumping his body in the swamp when…

Gentry Austin

give it up for mothers y'all. joan bennett does a LOT in ophuls' final english-language film. her husband is away and so she's sorta left alone to raise their rebellious 17-year-old daughter, who is going out with a shady older guy... then she has to cover up a crime, is…

KYK