Black Widow Reviews

Garner is not unlike Eve Harrington in ALL ABOUT EVE in her insidious ways. She arrives from the South to visit with uncle Kruger. An aspiring writer, she quickly enters the life of Great White Way impresario Heflin, who is married to Tierney, an actress who is out of town at the moment. When Garner says she needs a place to write, Heflin makes a tactical error and offers his apartment, a gorgeous flat overlooking Central Park. Tierney comes home and discovers Garner dead in the bedroom, hanging by her neck. The first suspicion is suicide, but detective Raft of the NYPD doesn't believe it for a second, especially after he learns that Garner was pregnant. Lots of suspects abound including Rogers, in an excellent portrayal of a phony, heartless stage personality; her husband Gardiner; a weakling playwright, Homeier, and a few others who've touched the young girl's life. Raft is not believable as the police officer, but all the other actors do wonderful work under Johnson's tight direction. The mystery is not quite what one might have hoped for, but Johnson's dialog is bright and the film remains interesting throughout its 95 minutes. Unfortunately, the title gives away the fact that the killer is a woman; otherwise there might have been somewhat more suspense.