Lady of Deceit (1947 Robert Wise)

Strangely premised film in which first Claire Trevor (good) then foster sister Audrey Long fall in love with Laurence Tierney, who's "so good-looking". Which he isn't (though some might argue it's difficult to tell in lousy BBC2 print, which looks like it's been in the wash too many times) - he's an ugly, angry, psychotic bastard without a nice bone in his body. As far as Trevor goes that's OK as she is as bad as he is (for no particularly well-explained reason). Esther Howard is a beer loving friend of one of the murderer's victims who enlists the help of poetic and venal detective Walter Slezac, also watchable, whilst Elisha Cook Jr, in a hat that's far too large for him, is so doggedly loyal to Tierney that there's almost a gay sub-text (they have lived together for five years).

Scene where sympathetic Howard escapes from murder via use of hat pin is the highlight of OK drama.

Shot by Robert de Grasse for RKO.