1940s crime movies may create the thought of a stealth private detective, but few scripts had a female lead in that role. Exposed (1947) is the story of a female private detective repeatedly encountering a threatening person, an assignment of mysterious withdrawals and the death of her client. The film was written by Royal K. Cole and Charles Moran.
2 exterior shots in Exposed (1947). Click for larger view.
Released by Republic Pictures, this is my first time featuring an independent classic film. I’ve always enjoyed watching B-movies and many aren’t too bad. Most B-movies run an hour or so, which are great for when you don’t have a lot of time for a longer movie or want to watch 2 movies in a row. Like the other B-movies I watch, this one is from Youtube. One of my favorite things about classic B-movies are the local exterior shots. I really like those sequences and often pause to study the buildings and life of pedestrians and cars.
Character Design
Costume Supervisor: Adele Palmer, Makeup Supervisor: Bob Mark, Hair: Unknown
Adele Mara in costume as the private detective Belinda Prentice.
Adele Mara plays the sassy and determined private eye Belinda Prentice. Mara appeared in several adventure movies at Republic. Her character’s 2 piece dress suit with a draped scarf under the shoulder straps of her suit jacket represents a professional and stylish woman. This fits Belinda’s role as a private detective who takes her assignments seriously, remaining undaunted. Her wrist purse cleverly serves as a means of defense and practicality while investigating discretely. Mara’s brushed out curls and natural makeup with the exception of false eyelashes, keep in line with her character being an everyday woman. Mara plays Belinda with a likable quality. She fights back, relies on her wits and isn’t coy. This may be unusual to those accustomed to seeing the female use seduction in a femme fatale style.
William Haade in costume as the assistant/bodyguard Izzy.
William Haade plays Izzy, Belinda’s husky and loyal right hand man. Haade was often cast as a supporting character in varieties of law enforcers or the villain in westerns. Izzy’s backstory remains ambiguous as well as how he joined Belinda, there’s only the mention that he was a Marine during the war. His costume is a single breasted suit with a knit tie and handkerchief neatly tucked, dressed casually for practical purposes given that sometimes he handles difficult people for Belinda. Haade’s hair is kept in a standard brushed back and groomed style of the era, as though he did it himself. Haade plays Izzy as unobtrusively nearby with the ability to make a brief presence strong.
Set Design
Art Director: James Sullivan, Set Decorations: Charles Thompson, John McCarthy Jr.
Left to right: Lobby with Emmy (Joyce Compton) at the front desk, middle and last are of Belinda’s office. Click image for larger view.
The marble walls and spacious office give a sense of order and style for a well off detective. In the lobby the desk has various papers neatly stacked implying Belinda gets clients consistently, although there’s no typewriter to be seen. Vases on top of small bookcases added a sense of balance and elegance. Belinda’s office is ample, given that it fits a couch, 3 arm chairs and the latest intercom system on her right side. The desk is neat with books on the side perhaps for reference. I thought the flowered lamp shades by the couch add a touch of femininity. The trio of sculptures on the cabinet by the desk remind me of sculpture from art history and suggested Belinda appreciates art. I felt the sculptures and modernistic paintings on the wall fit with the large curved furniture to create an up to date space.
The cocktail lounge that Belinda visits for a clue. Click image for larger view.
The cocktail lounge is one of my favorite sets in the film. Instead of this being a large nightclub, it’s an obscure bar that’s not part of a block of nightclubs. The relaxed atmosphere from the design creates a casual and secluded set for the scenes that occur. The glass block window in the front and backlit shelves behind the bar make the lounge modern despite its modest size. In the first picture by the door, I believe is a vending machine for cigarettes, maybe even with candy and gum. You can’t see them clearly but abstract paintings adorn the walls. Notice the jukebox on the side of the wall in the final photo and the streamlined chairs at the tables. This set is also very 1940s like the office one.
Exposed is a fast paced film, both refreshing and entertaining. The film could’ve had a less common title and developed certain scenes to strengthen the plot. I wondered if this could’ve been a series to elaborate on the unlikely team of Mara and Haade. Next time you’re looking for a mystery with a story that will keep you guessing–Exposed is a pleasant choice. B-movies are sometimes given a cringing stereotype of haphazardly concocted scripts with fumbling actors and shaky sets. This is one of the films that proves you can’t label all low budget movies. Though they had smaller budgets than the major studios, independent studios could deliver good entertainment and deserve acknowledgement in their contribution to filmmaking. Do you like to watch classic B-movies?
*Cover Photo: Detail of movie poster. Source: GStatic
Vintage Stardust 