On Dangerous Ground

Nicholas Ray - 1952
Mmm, this is really an excellent film. Early on we have those big faces and compostions which use all the frame, some things very close to us. With some surprsingly soft streetlights, some strong whites in the snow. The second half of the film's move to the snow signals longer shots, as the figures move around, lost, not quite getting anywhere.
There are some moments also with some very striking camera work; going handheld for a chase through the streets, chucking it around for crashes.
This is part of the contemplation that is throughout this film. Frankly, hardly anything happens, and what does is quick, but there is really a lot of thinking, moving around rooms, being with others but lonely.
I want to talk about Ray's editing; Truffaut called it a mess in 'Johnny Guitar'. This is true from an approach looking for it to be structured, but I find it poetic, musical. It follows an emotional curve, moving in or refreshing as it needs to for the stronger notes, and in accord out, and so on. In a way it is also a mess in that one feels the shots were shortened or used fully in the editing room, they are snatches, they can be very jerky (Hitchcock might have done the rock-top scene with a similar pacing in mind, but he'd never have allowed the lack of precision). This is straightforward emotion and feeling here.
So, loneliness, lonely people. Violent people who can't help it. Trying to understand others but tragically, poetically, romantically unable to. Poet at nightfall and all that. All very true, if not my favourite way of looking at Ray. What I take from him is very much a singular filmmaker, cinematic means to put across feeling and emotion, distinctive and beautiful framings, that poetic editing, in his very individual world.