I’d actually watch Barbara Stanwyck puke into a sink, as I love her that much. This film, to my best memory, has a dense plotline similar to that of The Big Sleep, so I figure that can qualify it as noir to some.

Also, I didn't discover comedy noir until last year, so I'd reply to you, why not? Film noir took place over a pretty long period, about two decades--there was lots of time for various subgenres to pop up in there.

@CelluloidFan said:

Also, I didn't discover comedy noir until last year, so I'd reply to you, why not? Film noir took place over a pretty long period, about two decades--there was lots of time for various subgenres to pop up in there.

Its definitely a fair term for the film, quick talking, quick wits and a whole lot of intrigue. It's what I found made the ending a little too Hollywood and out of keeping with the rest of the film.

In terms of Stanwyck, I didn't discover her until recently and I'm very impressed so far. A dolly bird in the film says about her character "I don't know what they see in the plain ones", but someone looking just like the girl next door is perfect for this. Its hard to imagine a film since the 80s casting a pair of normal looking humans like Stanwyck and Wendell Corey as the romantic leads.

Rewatching it last week (one of my favorites) I can see how films like this influenced shows like Dallas and especially Yellowstone. Is it noir? Kind of leaning no but that's probably me. I think loner cowboy in Blood on the Moon fits better while this one seems to epic to be that. I now just realized that is Walter Huston and not Henry Hull in the father role. I wish more actors would be as broad in their performances sometimes.

@Fergoose said:

@CelluloidFan said:

Also, I didn't discover comedy noir until last year, so I'd reply to you, why not? Film noir took place over a pretty long period, about two decades--there was lots of time for various subgenres to pop up in there.

Its definitely a fair term for the film, quick talking, quick wits and a whole lot of intrigue. It's what I found made the ending a little too Hollywood and out of keeping with the rest of the film.

I remember and agree with this.

In terms of Stanwyck, I didn't discover her until recently and I'm very impressed so far. A dolly bird in the film says about her character "I don't know what they see in the plain ones", but someone looking just like the girl next door is perfect for this. Its hard to imagine a film since the 80s casting a pair of normal looking humans like Stanwyck and Wendell Corey as the romantic leads.

And I somewhat agree with you on this. Barbara is somewhat plain looking, and it can be a pleasure to watch American films from say, the sixties to the seventies starring folks like Robert De Niro, Dustin Hoffman or Charles Bronson. I don't have anything against pretty people; I'm not sure if "looksism" has that much grounding in reality, outside of maybe broadcast media.