Caught

Star Review

Alex Davidson examines this overlooked norish melodrama from Max Ophuls.

Caught is an unjustly neglected work from Max Ophüls, made between his masterpieces Letter from an Unknown Woman and The Reckless Moment. It brilliantly merges melodrama and film noir, and constantly surprises the viewer. Barbara Bel Geddes stars as a naïve young woman who dreams of fame and fortune, and finds herself married to a ruthless industrial magnate (Robert Ryan). She is the 1940s equivalent of a footballer’s wife, but soon loathes her pampered lifestyle. Can she break free from her loveless lifestyle and find happiness with a kindly doctor (James Mason)?

From this soapy plotline Ophüls creates a masterly picture, tinging the melodrama with shades of noir; although his method is very different, his critique of society is as scathing as the work of Douglas Sirk. Mason is typically strong, yet it is Ryan who dominates, creating a seething symbol of the corruption of wealth as the self-pitying millionaire who revels in his wife’s unhappiness. For a U-rated film, there is an incredible thread of cynicism that flows throughout. Only in this world could a miscarriage be greeted with universal joy.

Alex Davidson on 26th August 2008

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Film Description

Ophuls' penultimate Hollywood film is a film noir classic in which a young girl's dream turns into a nightmare. Intent on marrying a millionaire, Leonora discovers her man to be power crazed and paranoid. She finds comfort in the arms of another, but her husband tries to destroy her.

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DVD Extras

• Commentary by Lutz Bacher, author of ‘Max Ophuls in the Hollywood Studios’
• Video Essay by film historian Tag Gallagher
• Stills Gallery.

Film Details

Cast

James Mason, Robert Ryan, Barbara Bel Geddes

Technical Details