Experiment Perilous (1944)

Experiment Perilous (1944) is a historical melodrama lousy husband suspicious couple insane jealousy film noir tale of shattered glass, gushing water and floundering fish noir, yes aquarium film noir, and a crazy virtual prisoner drama of noirish proportions.

Tis indeed a film noir which is of those high-class nightmares wrapped in velvet, but make no mistake—it’s got a black heart beating under all that lush, shadow-soaked atmosphere. It’s a tale of gaslight and doom, where dames aren’t sure if they’re crazy or just trapped, and every smooth-talking gent’s got a trick up his sleeve.

The story kicks off when square-jawed psychiatrist Dr. Huntington Bailey (George Brent) stumbles into a real honey of a mess. A train ride and a chance meeting lead him straight into the twisted world of rich and refined Nick Bederaux (Paul Lukas), a husband with a mind like a steel trap and a grip on his wife, Allida (Hedy Lamarr), so tight it’s choking the life outta her. She’s a knockout with trouble in her eyes, and Bailey starts wondering if she’s really losing her marbles—or if her charming hubby is playing a slow, deadly game.

He goes so far as to wonder if a woman scared by the storm on a train is 'mentally ill'.

In March 1939, Hedy Lamarr married Gene Markey in Mexico after a whirlwind romance. They met at a film preview, dined together, and drove to Mexico the next day. Markey proposed spontaneously, and they married on the spot.

By January 1939, rumors of their relationship were circulating, and Hedy had ended her previous relationship with Reginald Gardiner. A notable legacy of her past relationship was a gothic painting of Hedy in a red dress, which foreshadowed her roles in "Experiment Perilous" (1944) and "Strange Woman" (1946).

In October 1945, Hedy Lamarr joined a group at the Actors’ Laboratory in Los Angeles to support Austrian artists endangered by fascism. The organization aimed to develop a democratic Austrian theatre and provide relief to those connected with Salzburg and Viennese theatre. Key members included Paul Henreid, Fritz Kortner, Peter Lorre, and Hedy herself.

Hedy was also lent to RKO for the film "Experiment Perilous," filmed between July and October 1944. She considered it her best work and enjoyed a smooth production experience at RKO. Directed by Jacques Tourneur, the film is a classic 1940s women's film, often compared to "Gaslight."

Hedy played Allida Bederaux, a mysterious heroine, with George Brent as the psychoanalyst investigating her. Brent, known for his solid but sometimes wooden acting, had previously starred with Bette Davis in "Dark Victory" (1939).

"The Strange Woman," directed by Edgar G. Ulmer, is a rich melodrama filled with moral ambiguity, a hallmark of Ulmer's work. The film creates an Old Testament world of good and evil with an absent but punishing God. For Hedy Lamarr, this was her first leading role, requiring her to carry the film rather than serve as a mere plot device.

Ulmer borrowed from the gothic look of "Experiment Perilous" but made Hedy an active participant in the drama, exposing her limitations as a performer. Critics found her adequate, noting her beauty and ability to captivate men, though opinions on her performance varied. The film ran over budget, affecting its box office success.

Hedy Lamarr became known for the roles she didn't play as much as for those she did. Notably, she missed out on playing Ilsa in "Casablanca" and turned down roles in "Gaslight" and "Laura." Her decisions were often influenced by studio heads, though she was known to express her preferences.

For instance, George Cukor mentioned she wasn't considered for "Gaslight." Other factors also affected casting, such as her pregnancy, which led her to withdraw from "Duel in the Sun," a role later taken by Jennifer Jones.

In 1942, Hedy met John Loder, an Englishman with a distinguished military background, at the Hollywood Canteen.