Fright “B” Flick Classic ‘Among the Living’ 1941

Albert Dekker, here as the crazy one of twin brothers, and starlet Susan Hayward,
in 1941's "Among the Living."

 

A Southern gothic “B” thriller, Paramount’s 1941 Among the Living is taut and tense, with a fascinating cast, for reasons both on-screen and off. This movie reminds me of a cross between Kings Row, the TV version of Peyton Place, and Dark Shadows. 

Albert Dekker as twins Paul & John Raden, one good and one bad, natch!
1941's "Among the Living," with Frances Farmer and Susan Hayward.

Stuart Heisler went on to direct gritty little gems like Smash-Up, Storm Warning and The Star, with Susan Hayward, Ginger Rogers, and Bette Davis, respectively. Among the Living was among Heisler’s first directorial efforts after editing over 30 films, dating back to the silent era.

Paramount's 1941 "Among the Living" has gained a cult following over the years,
for it's stylish "B" movie storytelling and the eclectic cast.

Albert Dekker is terrific in a dual role of John and Paul Raden, the former is the brother who comes home for his tycoon/tyrant father's funeral. The latter is a brother thought to be dead, but is deranged and kept prisoner in the decaying family manse. After the funeral, the insane brother escapes his keeper, set off by the thought of his vicious father buried next to his victim mother.

Albert Dekker as normal twin John Raden, with his wife, played by Frances Farmer
in 1941's "Among the Living." Here, they attend his father's funeral.

It's been noted that there is a bit of Frankenstein's monster story regarding insane brother Paul. He was traumatized at a young age by his late hateful, violent father, and now acts out under certain triggers, like a woman’s scream. Others have noted Of Mice and Men's Lenny in Paul’s child-like demeanor. Dekker gives both characters full-blooded portrayals and did not to resort to hamming as the deranged Paul, which makes the performance powerful. Ironically, Dekker played a head doc at a southern sanitarium, urging new hire Montgomery Clift to perform a lobotomy on Elizabeth Taylor’s character in Suddenly, Last Summer, with a huge donation dangled by her auntie, played by Katharine Hepburn. In Among the Living, Harry Carey is the doctor bought off with a new hospital, by the Paul Raden’s father, to fake his son’s death and keep his existence secret.

Albert Dekker as mentally unbalanced Paul Raden, in 1941's "Among the Living."

Off-screen, Dekker had some big ups and downs. He was successful in California politics, though his going up against Joe McCarthy may have slowed down his film career, with “greylisting.” He kept his foot in the door of Broadway to fill in the downtimes. Later, Dekker’s son accidentally shot himself as a teen. Dekker had some issues himself, with a kinky sex life that led him to being found dead of apparent auto asphyxiation. Let's just say what was found wasn't pretty. For more on Albert Dekker: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_Dekker

Frances Farmer as the concerned wife of Albert Dekker's John Raden,
in 1941's "Among the Living."

The vagaries of show biz are demonstrated in Among the Living with the two female stars, Frances Farmer and Susan Hayward. Only six years earlier, Frances Farmer was swiftly heralded as the next big thing in Hollywood. She made a commercial hit with Bing Crosby in Rhythm on the Range and a substantial dual role in Come and Get It had her poised for major stardom. But a reputation as "difficult" and Farmer’s increasing emotional problems swiftly reduced her roles to “B's” and less screen time. This was her last film for Paramount and she was fourth billed, with a handful of scenes as the wife of the sane brother. Frances looks lovely as always and is competent in the cardboard role.

Susan Hayward as Millie, small town girl on the make, in 1941's "Among the Living."

Susan Hayward, who had just arrived at Paramount two years prior, was on her way up. She plays Millie, the small town vixen who unknowingly gets mixed up with the insane brother. And while her character is a gold digger, she also seems to be relatable. And Susie plays her part with spark and surely got noticed by the studio and movie fans. Frances was just four years older than Susan and just about finished in Hollywood. Ironically, both women were heavy smokers and died of cancer prematurely, Frances in 1970 and Susan in 1975. Both were 57.

Watch for Jean Phillips, Ginger Rogers one-time stand-in, as the bar girl who runs afoul with Dekker’s deranged brother, Paul. The climax of their scene is vividly suspenseful.

Jean Phillips as an unfortunate victim of Albert Dekker's deranged Paul Raden,
in 1941's "Among the Living."

The action of this movie is very well-staged and that is likely due to Heisler. His scenes of the KKK in action with 1950’s Storm Warning are skillful, too.

If you accept the construct of the story in Among the Living within the “B” movie thriller, it actually goes above and beyond: flesh and blood characters, good acting, underlying class issues, and an atmospheric style that is haunting.

Albert Dekker's Raden brothers, at their mother's grave, in "Among the Living."

Here’s my look at the controversial life of Frances Farmer: https://ricksrealreel.blogspot.com/2018/02/finding-frances-farmer-fact-versus.html

And here’s my take on Susan Hayward, in one of her first substantial roles: https://ricksrealreel.blogspot.com/2020/08/house-of-strangers-1949.html