Even though it was released before video games had even been invented, Lady in the Lake was a film noir that mimicked the feeling of playing a first-person shooter-style game. As an adaptation of the 1943 Raymond Chandler novel The Lady in the Lake, this underseen movie was just one of several films featuring the hardboiled crime icon Detective Philip Marlowe. While most will be aware of Humphrey Bogart’s legendary portrayal of the character in The Big Sleep, Marlowe has been reimagined throughout the years and, in 1946, was presented through a unique visual style.
As one of the best film noirs of its era, Lady in the Lake not only utilized the genre’s signature black-and-white cinematography, gritty realism, and dark sensibilities but also tried something entirely new from a filmmaking perspective. As one of the most revolutionary movies since the silent period transitioned into sound, director and star Robert Montgomery may have just been a little bit too ahead of his time for his era. This underrated classic has only become more acclaimed in the decades since its release, and Lady in the Lake offered a glimpse into the creative experimentation of Hollywood during the 1940s.
Lady In The Lake Is A First-Person Perspective Film Noir
This Unique Style Would Later Be Utilized In First-Person Shooter Video Games
In order to mimic the first-person narration of Raymond Chandler’s original novel, Lady in the Lake was presented from the point of view of the central character, with viewers only able to see what he sees. While we do catch glimpses of Phillip Marlow (Montgomery) in mirrors and reflections, this immersive technique allowed audiences to genuinely put themselves in his place. With virtually no instrumental soundtrack, the trailblazing style of Lady in the Lake made it stand out as one of the most creative and effective film noirs of its era.
In Lady in the Lake, “Phillip” is spelled with two “l”s, rather than the one that’s traditionally been used to spell Detective Philip Marlowe.
Why Lady In The Lake Uses A First-Person Perspective
The POV Style Of Lady In The Lake Made For A More Immersive Viewing Experience
While the first-person style of Lady in the Lake was likely jarring for unfamiliar viewers back in 1946, it was also an incredibly effective way of putting the audience in the shoes of its main protagonist. Montgomery’s decision to turn traditional filmmaking on its head offers a chance for viewers to act as Marlowe’s eyes and ears and essentially become the main character. Coming out during an era when nobody was thinking about audience engagement in filmmaking, the way Montgomery encouraged viewers to get actively involved in the movie also mimicked the immersive nature of a video game.
By limiting viewers to a first-person perspective, Lady in the Lake also emphasized the psychological tension of its central mystery. As Marlowe tried to solve the case of a missing magazine editor’s wife and eventually found himself involved in murder, the POV style made each twist and turn even more intense. With the audience forced to understand the story through just one perspective, Lady in the Lake further emphasized just how limited Marlowe’s point of view was as he fell increasingly further into this complex, hardboiled crime mystery.
Lady In The Lake Has Aged Surprisingly Well
While Not A Hit At The Time, Lady In The Lake Remains A Compelling Watch
Lady in the Lake has aged incredibly well and stands as a must-watch film noir for any fans of Bogart’s portrayal of Marlowe in The Big Sleep. As a filmmaking experiment that feels incredibly modern, the pioneering nature of Lady in the Lake meant it underperformed at the box office and was poorly received by critics. Like most trailblazers attempting to try something new, Montgomery’s first-person experiment was dismissed as gimmicky back in 1946.
However, it’s a testament to the long-lasting appeal of this underrated film noir that we’re still talking about it all these decades later. Not only did Lady in the Lake predate the first first-person shooter video game ever made by several decades, but it stands as an effective immersive experience that holds up surprisingly well. The clever idea of Lady in the Lake was to make viewers feel like they are actually there with Marlowe as he’s solving the crime, and it pulled off this ambitious feat spectacularly.
