Discussion of "Beware,My Lovely"

Beware, My Lovely (1952) is an American film noir directed by Harry Horner and starring Ida Lupino and Robert Ryan. The film is based on the play The Man by Mel Dinelli. The Man was originally a short story, then a Broadway play starring Dorothy Gish. It was also adapted as a radio drama as To Find Help in 1945 with Frank Sinatra and Agnes Moorehead and again with Gene Kelly and Ethel Barrymore in 1949. It was made into a TV drama starring Thelma Ritter and Audie Murphy. The cinematography is by George E. Diskant and the music is by Leith Stevens.

World War I window Helen Gordon (Lupino) hires a handyman Howard Wilton (Ryan) during the Christmas holidays to help her with home repairs and cleaning. She soon discovers him to be mentally unstable and physically dangerous. Howard keeps Helen captive in her own home, threatening her if she tries to call for help.
Will Helen be able to escape the clutches of Howard or will things take a turn for the worse?

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