Cereal At Midnight

Amnesia is one of film noir's well-worn devices. The disorienting notion of lost identity has fueled countless stories, especially during the hard-boiled era of crime fiction and film. The quest for self has arguably never been a stronger metaphor than in the years following World War II, for clear reasons. But  Street of Chance  was made just before the U.S. joined the war and arrives almost at the very beginning of what we now view as the classic years of film noir, meaning that it straddles the line between eras. Because of this, and because the film uses the amnesia device so well, Street of Chance feels fresh and unique.  The picture begins with our lead (Burgess Meredith) being struck on the head by falling debris while walking down the street. When he awakes, he remembers that he's Frank Thompson, a devoted husband and career man, but when he tries to return home, the residence is empty and a neighbor tells him that his wife (Louise Platt) now lives alone on the ot...

Equal parts Southern Gothic and Film Noir, Paramount's  Among the Living  is set against the backdrop of a sprawling southern plantation-style mansion that houses long-held secrets, madness, and murder.  John Raden (Albert Dekker) has returned to his hometown for the burial of his father, a wealthy and powerful figure who was the owner of the mill that employs many of the townspeople. After the funeral, he discovers a horrible secret: his twin brother, whom he had thought to be dead for 25 years after a fight with his father, is, in fact, alive! He's been locked away deep within the Raden House all along, completely insane. The town's doctor (played by Harry Carey) forged the death certificate and has been carrying the lie ever since; with the father dead, it's time for secrets long buried to be revealed at last. Before anyone has time to deal with the news, John's maniacal twin brother Paul (also played by Albert Dekker) escapes and heads into town. There he rents ...