An overlooked classic of avant-garde cinema that is supremely enjoyable and educational, an excellent early POV movie that comes with flaws but is directed at the hand of an obviously talented director.

Yes, this is the Raymond Chandler adaptation with the gimmick: we see the events through the eyes of detective Philip Marlowe. That is, the film is shot in "first person", so that we only see Robert Montgomery (who also directed) when he looks in the mirror or in opening and bridging scenes where he talks directly to the camera to explain things. Apparently, the idea came from Orson Welles. It works beautifully in places (as when the camera slowly prowls up the stairs, searching from room to room, until it finally spots a corpse in the shower) but mostly it is an unnecessary distraction. Most of the actors seem awkward and over-expressive when they need to deliver their lines directly to us (with Montgomery's voice heard offscreen). The plot is typical noir (dark/tough/complicated) and, although I haven't read the source novel, it is also likely to be typical Chandler - as in The Big Sleep, Farewell My Lovely, and The Long Goodbye (the novels I have read), the many characters are duplicitous, involved with each other in ways that are initially hidden, and even Marlowe is compromised. Montgomery plays him straight but rather flat - Bogart, Powell, and even Gould better capture Marlowe's sarcastic acceptance of the absurd (while still maintaining an honourable quest for the truth, broadly construed). Nevertheless, even as a failed experiment, Lady in the Lake is worth a look as a representative entry in this important genre.

Props for trying a new angle on film. It did appeal having that personal look at each character they interacted with.

Flawed but fascinating and ambitious film based on Raymond Chandler's book of the same name. Director Robert Montgomery plays private dick Philip Marlowe mostly from behind the camera, making an interesting choice to film from Marlowe's perspective. His goal being to save money and to create something original. Whether he stumbled upon originality because of budgetary limitations is up for debate. Its charm is aided by some acting that is at once awful but also perfect for its purpose. A great piece of movie history.

Novel idea, reasonably well executed.A private investigator, Phillip Marlowe (yes, THE Phillip Marlowe, of Raymond Chandler fame), is hired by the female editor of a magazine to find the missing wife of the owner of the magazine. His subsequent investigations unearth some intriguing findings, and make him some unlikely enemies... The whole movie is seen from the perspective of Phillip Marlowe.Quite novel, due to the First Person Point-of-View aspect throughout. It feels gimmicky from time-to-time but generally does not weaken the movie or become tedious. At times it is great for heightening the tension, as you feel as if you are in Marlowe's shoes.Intriguing, tense story with some good twists along the way.Robert Montgomery is miscast as Marlowe. His lines feel forced and he doesn't have the look of a wisecracking private investigator. Was Humphrey Bogart not available? He gives a great Marlowe, wise-cracking and cool without sounding misogynistic or overly macho. The fact that Montgomery is also the director might have something to do with him being in the lead role... Supporting cast are okay. Audrey Trotter puts in a good performance as Adrienne Fromsett. Pick of the bunch is Lloyd Nolan as Lt. DeGarmot.

This film is perhaps one of the most radical ever to come out of hollywood and should be part of the core curriculum for any film school or course in screen studies. The film is shot entirely from the point of view of Phillip Marlow whose face we never see. Every character looks almost directly at the camera just to the right or left of centre, The effect is most unnerving and entirely in keeping with the exquisite Raymond Chandler dialogue. It appears to have been a B movie, the only way the director would have gotten away with it. It is very hard for actors to play to directly to a camera as the convention of almost all narrative cinema is a recreation of the stage "proscenium" where the audience forms a virtual fourth wall. As such I can only pronounce all the performances of even the miinor characters to be excellent. Wait for the scene where Phillip Marlowe is punched in the face, its literally a knockout!

a different noir mysteryer

Interesting film-noir from the post war years. The first person viewpoint makes this a film worth seeing. The bait-&-switch routine near the end was a welcome gimmick.

I kinda enjoyed this despite its many, many flaws. The first person camera is annoying. Robert Montgomery isn't tough enough to play Marlowe. The femme fatales were a little too over-the-top. I haven't read the novel, but judging by the Chandler I have read I'm pretty sure they changed quite a bit. And yet I'd say Lady in the Lake is worth watching for any noir fans because of the unique filming style.

At times the gimmick of the film wears thin with a few dull dragging moments and a few missteps, but ultimately Lady in the Lake is an endlessly intriguing film noir classic with fantastic performances and a well-executed unique style.

This could have been a 5 star movie. The plot is full of twists and turns and the script is top notch. Robert Montgomery, however, does not make a believable Philip Marlowe and his direction also leaves a lot to be desired. It's almost as if Montgomery is reading the script and the audience seeing the story through Marlowe's eyes doesn't really work well here .Audrey Totter is good as Adrienne but this is not her finest hour either. Imagine if this movie had been made by an experienced director and Bogart, Mitchum or Dick Powell were Marlowe! Oh well, a girl can dream, can't she?

Montgomery is super miscast as Marlowe, but the movie (shot entirely from Marlowe's POV), while gimmicky, is pretty darn inventive for the 1940's.

YOU Share The Viewpoint of the Crankiest Marlowe in Cinema--Film noir with a unique twist!!

Gimmick detective film, with Raymond Chandler's Phillip Marlowe solving a murder with the audience looking through the eyes of Marlowe the entire film. While the point of view film style has some interesting moments (a surprise fist, a puff of smoke in a cops face, a flash of Montgomery in the mirror), but those moments are far outweighed by actors standing in place talking directly to the camera. It's a gimmick that had possibilities, but didn't quite come off right here. Raymond Chandler reportedly hated this film.

Exactly what I look for in a thriller/detective film. It has plenty of infamous detective Philip Marlowe's biting wit, a dazzling femme fatale, a great plot with twists that threw me off, and an innovative filming technique. The entire film is shot in brilliant first-person, so that we feel like we're solving the case with Marlowe. We see and hear what he sees and hears. Evidence comes to us only when it comes to him. I had a lot of fun watching it and was incredibly impressed. Five star murder mystery. I highly recommend it!