DVD Review: I Jane, Doe (1948)
A striking post-war courtroom drama, with John Auer’s artful direction and strong performances by a great cast, “I Jane Doe” addresses issues that might not have been acceptable in an earlier era. Ruth Hussey stars as an attorney, Eve Curtis, who chooses to take the case of a mystery woman, known publicly as Jane Doe, who is tried and convicted of murder. When it is discovered she is pregnant, her execution is postponed until the baby is born. Eve arranges for the woman to get a new trial. The twist: the man who Jane Doe was convicted of killing was the attorney’s husband.
The first point to be made is regarding Vera Ralston, who plays the Jane Doe character. Ralston made 26 films and the rumor is that only two of them made money. She was married to Republic Pictures studio head Herbert Yates, who was 30 years older. Yates left his wife and children to marry Ralston, whom he promoted despite her limited English skills. They remained married until Yates’ death in 1966. He left his fortune to her, she later remarried, and lived quietly in California until her death in 2003.
It is perhaps because of her backstory that Ralston is dismissed as an actress (at least one book calls her one of the worst actresses in film history). I’ve always felt this was an unfair assessment. In this film, Ralston responds well to John Auer’s direction and turns in a competent performance in the title role.
The role is fairly challenging. The murder accusation, the unwanted pregnancy, the eventual death of the baby, and other such situations call for a range of reactions. Ralston is still, staring straight ahead, the pain from the emotionally overwhelming events conveyed in her subtle expressions. It’s all about nuance, and Ralston exhibits this nicely
John Carroll is at his sleazy best as the repugnant womanizer Stephen Curtis, with his swaggering gait, sly smile and conning manner. Carroll’s plane is shot down in France, where he meets and falls for Jane Doe, whose name is actually Annette Dubois. Despite being married to Eve, he marries Annette. Stephen promises to return to Annette after the war, but he never does. Eve travels to New York with the intention of finding and killing Stephen, but discovers that she is not the only one with that idea.
The structure of the film is not linear. It begins with Stephen’s murder, cuts to the murder trial, introduces Eve, and then, when a new trial is arranged, the details are told in court, while shown in flashback. John Auer’s approach to the material is really quite impressive. When the flashback sequences are presented, there isn’t anything truly stylistic about the presentation. Auer allows the narrative to be told. However, in the courtroom, his expansive establishing shots, placement of the camera, and careful edits are remarkable, giving a pacing to the scenes that goes beyond what the narrative has to offer. The flashback sequences do insert some stock war footage, but mostly the narrative depth regarding Stephen’s and Annette’s relationship, and the dangers she goes through hiding him from enemy soldiers, helps us better understand her character and also see what a despicable person Stephen is.
Gene Lockhart, as a prosecuting attorney, offers able support. Lockhart, often playing sweet, kindly men, could also switch gears and offer the sort of abrasive, bullying performance he gives this film. John Litel is his counterpart; a relaxed, measured defense attorney. Adele Mara, always able to be striking in the smallest parts (she steals a scene in a 3 Stooges comedy with just a one-word line), registers here as well.
This strong drama from a low budget studio that is best known for its B westerns is a new Kino-Lorber HD master from a 4K scan of the original 35mm negative and fine grain by Paramount Pictures archives, who own and house some of the Republic Pictures films.. It is most highly recommended.
The blu ray is available here.