The Man Who Cheated Himself

Directed by Felix E. Feist, The Man Who Cheated Himself follows police lieutenant Ed Cullen (Lee J. Cobb) as his efforts at covering up his mistress’ (Jane Wyatt’s Lois Frazer) crime are eventually stymied by his newly-promoted detective brother (John Dall’s Andy). It’s a terrific premise that is, for the most part, employed to engaging and thoroughly satisfying effect by Feist, as the filmmaker, armed with a script by Seton I. Miller and Philip MacDonald, delivers a briskly-paced film noir that benefits from its plethora of engrossing sequences and uniformly stirring performances – with, in terms of the latter, Cobb’s magnetic, commanding turn as the unflappable protagonist elevating the proceedings on a regular basis. (Dall and Wyatt are quite strong here, as well.) The above-average atmosphere is perpetuated by an ongoing emphasis on standout interludes and stretches, including a terrific scene wherein Andy makes a series of phone calls based on a hunch, and it’s clear, too, that the compelling vibe is heightened by Ed’s increasingly desperate efforts at staying one step ahead of his tenacious sibling – which, when combined with a stirring (albeit somewhat padded-out) climax, cements The Man Who Cheated Himself‘s place as a first-class thriller. (And this is to say nothing of the memorably downbeat conclusion, too.)

*** out of ****