(Obsession) The Hidden Room - 1949 ****

Psychiatrist Clive believes his beautiful wife Storm (what a name!) is having an affair, and his fears are justified when he arrives home one evening and, standing in the shadows, sees his wife come in with her lover Bill. Once Clive confronts them it is clear his motives are dangerous and when he invites Bill out for a walk to 'discuss things' (it's the middle of the night) Storm is adamant that Bill will be killed. What she doesn't know is that Clive has taken Bill to a secret bunker-type room underground round the corner, and is keeping him chained to the wall. He tells Bill that it's only a matter of time before he disposes of him, but won't say when.

It's incredibly atmospheric and tense, and I love how calm the two men are around each other, nothing like being spurned by your wife for a younger lover and having to keep your cool. Sally Gray is gorgeous and Robert Newton is suitably suave but creepy in equal measures. I watched this years ago and never forgot it.

(NOIR) The Amazing Dr Clitterhouse - 1938 ***

Affectionately or insultingly (depending on how you look at it) known by Humphrey Bogart as 'The Amazing Dr Clitoris' this is a rather ingenius mixture of film noir, drama and black comedy.

Dr Clitterhouse is a distinguished and well liked doctor, but what many people don't know is that he is fascinated by crime and criminal activity. In fact, he's so fascinated that after a few practice runs of stealing jewellery from posh house he decides to turn to the other end of the spectrum, and become the head of a gang of thieves so that he can 'get inside' the mindset of a criminal.' 

Bogart plays the head criminal of the gang who's nose is put out of joint at the calm, pleasant and general niceness of Dr Clitterhouse. He's also not too pleased that Clitterhouse appears to have stolen half the loot her was hoping to get his hands on and has muscled in on his turf, so to speak. Claire Trevor is the cool, calm fatale of the gang who takes a liking to Clitterhouse, a choice that will get everyone in trouble. 

Edward G. Robinson maybe small in stature but my god he can fill a screen like a veritable Sidney Greenstreet. Always a delight to watch him, and of course Bogie has all eyes on him, although I feel he hasn't got a particularly strong character here to do much with, so really it's just as well he gets his major break into films in a couple of years.