The Strange Woman
The Strange Woman

Movie spotlight

The Strange Woman

1946
Movie
100 min
English

In early 19th century New England, an unscrupulous woman uses her beauty and wits to seduce, deceive and control the men around her.

Insights

IMDb6.2/10
Director: Edgar G. UlmerGenres: Film-Noir, Drama, Thriller

Plot Summary

A beautiful and manipulative woman, Jennifer (Hedy Lamarr), ruthlessly uses men to achieve her financial and social ambitions. She marries a wealthy businessman, but her scheming leads to his death. She then sets her sights on his heir, continuing her trail of destruction and deceit. Her actions create a dark web of obsession and tragedy, ensnaring everyone who comes into her path.

Critical Reception

The film noir 'The Strange Woman' received mixed to negative reviews upon its release, with many critics finding its plot convoluted and its melodrama overwrought. Hedy Lamarr's performance was often noted, but the film struggled to connect with audiences and critics due to its dark themes and perceived lack of subtlety. It has since gained a cult following among film noir enthusiasts for its stylistic elements and Lamarr's compelling portrayal.

What Reviewers Say

  • Hedy Lamarr's performance as the femme fatale is a central focus, though often criticized for being overly melodramatic.

  • The film noir atmosphere and Ulmer's direction provide some visual interest, but the plot is frequently seen as contrived.

  • The narrative's manipulation and dark themes were divisive, leading to a largely unfavorable reception.

Google audience: Information on Google user reviews for 'The Strange Woman' is not readily available, making it difficult to summarize audience sentiment on the platform.

Fun Fact

Hedy Lamarr's husband at the time, John Loder, has a small role in the film as a character named 'Groom'.

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My Review

TMDB Reviews

2 reviews
CinemaSerf

CinemaSerf

Ben Williams' original novel offered quite a different take on the gold-digging femme fatale and in this adaptation Hedy Lamarr takes on the title role. Escaping from a fairly brutal marriage to a drunk, she determines to improve her lot in...

John Chard

John Chard

Bangor is mine and it owes me a living. The Strange Woman is directed by Edgar G. Ulmer who also co-writes the screenplay with Hunt Stromberg and Herb Matthews from the novel of the same name written by Ben Ames Williams. It stars Hedy L...