The Big Bluff, Never Trust a Man

Smooth...with a hint of a Latin flair. He probably does the Tango, lights your cigarette, opens doors for you, orders for you at restaurants, skin dives, plays tennis, never interrupts, doesn't snore...he's perfect. Too good to be true?  Do you need to ask? Ah, the gadabout, con-man, or dandy...a woman needs discernment to keep away from these fellows.  So sad, the vulnerable Martha Vickers won't have that discernment. Our feature today is 1955's "The Big Bluff," directed by W. Lee Wilder (Billy Wilder's brother).

So sad. The very wealthy, and quite beautiful widow Valerie (Vickers) is dying. Bad heart. Has a year, max. Her doting valet, Marsha (Eve Miller) is heartbroken.  She is Valerie's bestie and watchdog. The doctor tells her to take Valerie away from New York to a warm climate. Marsha also insists no one tell Valerie her illness is terminal. The gals go to L.A. Mind you, this is L.A. before peaceful protesting ruled the day. There, the gals meet her new attending physician, Dr. Peter Kirk (Robert Hutton). He's a hunk and Marsha and him will get quite close. Valerie? Okay, here's where it gets precarious. Gadabout con-man Ricardo De Villa (John Bromfield), call him Rick, sees Valerie.  He finds out she's loaded and that she will die soon.  The heel smells opportunity.  Rick's current GF is Fritzie Darvel (Rosemarie Stack), a sultry nightclub singer.  She's married to a short fat guy and is banking on Rick to take her away from him.

Now Rick and Fritzie plot. Fritzie is not happy about Rick romancing Valerie, but is told it will not be for long. Rick does a fine job and ends up married to Valerie, against Marsha's objections. Rick knows Valerie has only a short time to live.  Once the beauty drops dead, all her money is his and he can take Fritzie away. Of course, Rick keeps Valerie up late, pours her a lot of adult beverages, lights her cigarettes, and involves her in strenuous activities.  Bad news for Rick.  Dr. Kirk advises him Valerie is improving and may not die. Rick is not happy about this and concocts a plan. A bad plan. A vicious and bloody plan.  But what happens next will be one of the most shocking endings in any crime drama.

Does Valerie have a prayer at living happily ever after?  Will Fritzie and Valerie enter a catfight with Rick's affections as the prize?  Will Marsha, Valerie's protector, either kill Rick or be killed by Rick? This is a clever Film Noir film that will have you cheering at the surprise ending. Ultimately a morality tale, one may find some similarities to this one and "The Postman Always Rings Twice." See "The Big Bluff" and beware any man who is good at the Tango.