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The File on Thelma Jordon

Play trailer Poster for The File on Thelma Jordon 1950 1h 40m Crime Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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Tomatometer 3 Reviews 70% Popcornmeter 250+ Ratings
Cleve Marshall (Wendell Corey) is an assistant district attorney who falls for the shadowy Thelma Jordon (Barbara Stanwyck). With her sordid past -- and her relationship with thief Tony Laredo (Richard Rober) -- kept secret from the married attorney, Jordon seduces the easily swayed Marshall, and uses him to cover up her misdeeds. When Jordon becomes the prime suspect for the murder of her wealthy aunt, she turns to Marshall, who goes to great lengths to clear her name.
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The File on Thelma Jordon

Critics Reviews

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Sean Axmaker Stream on Demand May 4, 2024
... an understated noir, slower and more subdued than such classics as The Maltese Falcon or Siodmak’s own The Killers, but elegant and compelling and even genuinely tragic in its own right... Go to Full Review
Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Jan 22, 2013
B+
Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews Nov 23, 2004
B
The performances by both Stanwyck and Corey are strong. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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nick s @Nick_S Mar 1, 2024 Well acted and nicely paced. See more
Steve D @RT35616104 Jun 7, 2023 A poor man's double indemnity but still entertaining and it keeps you guessing. See more
Aldo G @RT54480587 May 7, 2023 Siodmak and Stanwyck partner to deliver a super film noir. Too bad these two noir stars only worked together on this picture. But, as least we have this one to appreciate. See more
Sep 16, 2021 Stanwyck doesn't deliver a false line of dialogue; always the supreme actress. See more
May 13, 2019 Assistant D. A. Cleve Marshall (Wendell Corey) is unhappy in his marriage and meets Thelma Jordon (Barbara Stanwyck) when out on a bender. She is seeking to report a prowler at her rich aunt's house to a local private detective (Paul Kelly). But soon the two fall in love, an obsessive love that takes Marshall away from his wife and kids and into noir territory. Soon, the aunt is dead with a recently changed will leaving everything to Jordon, now the chief suspect. Naturally, Marshall is appointed to prosecute the case in court. We don't know if Jordon is bad but there are many clues (including a shady "husband" lurking around). We also don't know if she really loves Marshall â" she may. Director Robert Siodmak (Phantom Lady, The Killers, and many other great noirs) takes a leisurely approach to the developing relationship, with enough time spent with Marshall's wife (Joan Tetzel) to feel his guilt. But of course, viewers can't help but compare this film to Billy Wilder's earlier Double Indemnity (1944) in which Stanwyck convinced hapless Fred MacMurray to kill her husband. Stanwyck is a bit more ambiguous here and you never do know whether Marshall will redeem himself by putting his all into his courtroom appearances or throw the case to help her. MacMurray never had a chance; moreover, Stanwyck never had a streak of good in her in the earlier film. Still, in true noir fashion, it only takes one mistake to turn the dark corner. See more
Feb 11, 2017 good film noir from the 2nd cycle See more
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The File on Thelma Jordon

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Cast & Crew

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Robert Siodmak

Director

Barbara Stanwyck

Thelma Jordon

Wendell Corey

Cleve Marshall

Paul Kelly

Miles Scott

Joan Tetzel

Pamela Blackwell Marshall

Stanley Ridges

Kingsley Willis
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The File on Thelma Jordon

The File on Thelma Jordon (1949) The File on Thelma Jordon (1949) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Cleve Marshall (Wendell Corey) is an assistant district attorney who falls for the shadowy Thelma Jordon (Barbara Stanwyck). With her sordid past -- and her relationship with thief Tony Laredo (Richard Rober) -- kept secret from the married attorney, Jordon seduces the easily swayed Marshall, and uses him to cover up her misdeeds. When Jordon becomes the prime suspect for the murder of her wealthy aunt, she turns to Marshall, who goes to great lengths to clear her name.
Director
Robert Siodmak
Producer
Hal B. Wallis
Screenwriter
Ketti Frings
Distributor
Paramount Pictures
Production Co
Wallis-Hazen
Genre
Crime, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jan 18, 1950, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Nov 8, 2018
Runtime
1h 40m
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