Movie spotlight
In a long flashback, a New York publisher is in Venice pursuing the lost love letters of an early-19th-century poet, Jeffrey Ashton, who disappeared mysteriously. Using a false name, Lewis Venable rents a room from Juliana Bordereau, once Jeffrey Ashton's lover, now an aged recluse. Running the household is Juliana's severe niece, Tina, who mistrusts Venable from the first moment. He realizes all is not right when late one night he finds Tina, her hair unpinned and wild, at the piano. She calls him Jeffrey and throws herself at him. The family priest warns Venable to tread carefully around her fantasies, but he wants the letters at any cost, even Tina's sanity.
A young woman named 'L' (Susan Hayward) is hired by the wealthy and eccentric Seth Arbuckle (Adolphe Menjou) to investigate the mysterious past of his late wife, a celebrated poet. As she delves deeper into the poet's life, she uncovers a series of secrets, including a hidden love affair and a dark secret that threatens to consume her as well.
The Lost Moment received a mixed reception upon its release. While some critics praised its noir atmosphere and intriguing premise, others found its plot convoluted and its pacing uneven. The performances of the lead actors, particularly Susan Hayward, were generally well-regarded, but the film ultimately failed to achieve widespread critical acclaim.
Praised for its moody atmosphere and noir elements.
Susan Hayward's performance was noted as a highlight.
Criticized for a confusing and slow-moving plot.
Google audience: Information on Google user reviews for 'The Lost Moment' is not readily available.
None notable.
The film was based on the 1925 novel 'The Voice in the Wilderness' by Edmund Yates, which was itself inspired by the life of poetess Elizabeth Barrett Browning.
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When opportunistic publisher "Lewis Venable" (Robert Cummings) sets out to track down some long-lost love letters from recently re-discovered poet "Jeffrey Ashton", he ends up in a Dickensian-style mansion house where the writer's former mi...
Dead among the living and living among the dead. The Lost Moment is directed by Martin Gabel and adapted by Leonardo Bercovici from the Henry James novel, The Aspern Papers. It stars Robert Cummings, Susan Hayward, Agnes Moorehead and Ed...