Tension: The Film Noir of the Week Podcast

Christmas noir recommendations including I, The Jury, Christmas Holiday, Lady in the Lake, Blast of Silence and more.

A crusading district attorney sells his soul to the devil to fight corruption. http://tinyurl.com/nickbeal

The Driver specializes in driving getaway cars for robberies. His exceptional talent has prevented him from being caught yet. After another successful flight from the police a self-assured detective makes it his primary goal to catch the Driver. He promises pardons to a gang if they help to convict him in a set-up robbery. The Driver seeks help from The Player to mislead the detective. http://tinyurl.com/y8xogccn

Los Angeles private eye Philip Marlowe is hired by paroled convict Moose Malloy to find his girlfriend Velma, former seedy nightclub dancer. Film Noir of the Week looks at one of the great Mitchum films noir. http://tinyurl.com/n2clslk

Illicit lovers plot to kill the woman's older husband in this classic film noir based on the James M. Cain novel. http://tinyurl.com/amthvl

A spoiled and alcoholic millionaire, Robert Ryan, breaks his leg falling off of a horse, and is left to die in the desert by his cheating wife, Rhonda Fleming, and her lover, William Lundigan. The excellent adventure film, originally released in 3D is a film noir worth seeking out. http://tinyurl.com/myoqxd9

Actor Lester Blaine has all but landed the lead in Myra Hudson's new play when Myra vetoes him because, to her, he doesn't look like a "romantic leading man." On a train from New York to San Francisco, Blaine sets out to prove Myra wrong...by romancing her. Is he sincere, or does he have a dark ulterior motive? Read more at http://tinyurl.com/SuddenFear

Edward G. Robinson leaves behind his tough-guy persona for one of the great films noir. Read more or comment at http://gourl.gr/bs1a

Episode one features the classic 1945 drama Brief Encounter. At a railway station cafe, housewife Laura Jesson meets doctor Alec Harvey. Both of them are already married, but they continue to meet at the cafe every Thursday despite the knowledge that their blossoming love is impossible.