Too Late for Tears (1949) is a gripping American film noir directed by Byron Haskin and starring Lizabeth Scott, Don DeFore, and Dan Duryea. The story follows Jane Palmer, a ruthless woman who stumbles upon a suitcase filled with $60,000 (equivalent to more than $600,000 today) and becomes consumed by greed. Determined to keep the money at all costs, she spirals into a series of lies, betrayals, and even murders. Plot Overview While driving home one night, Jane and her husband Alan accidentally come into possession of a suitcase full of cash, thrown into their car by criminals. Unlike her cautious husband, Jane is immediately captivated by the money and insists on keeping it. Her obsession grows uncontrollable, pushing her toward manipulation, deceit, and ultimately a string of cold-blooded killings to secure her newfound fortune. This descent into darkness cements her as one of cinema’s most vicious femme fatales. Lizabeth Scott’s chilling performance remains one of her career highlights, portraying Jane Palmer as a character both alluring and terrifying. Production and Release Too Late for Tears (1949) was written by Roy Huggins, based on his serialized story for The Saturday Evening Post. Produced by Hunt Stromberg and released by United Artists, the film initially failed at the box office. Its poor financial performance forced Stromberg into bankruptcy. In 1955, the film was re-released under an alternate title, Killer Bait, but still struggled to find success. Despite its rocky start, the movie later gained recognition for its dark portrayal of greed and corruption, becoming a cult classic in the noir genre. Restoration and Legacy For decades, Too Late for Tears circulated in the public domain, often in poor-quality prints. However, in 2015, the UCLA Film & Television Archive and the Film Noir Foundation carried out an extensive restoration, sourcing material from France and surviving prints. In 2016, the fully restored version was released on Blu-ray by Flicker Alley in the United States and Arrow Films in the United Kingdom. Today, the film is celebrated for its sharp dialogue, tense atmosphere, and Lizabeth Scott’s iconic performance, earning it a loyal cult following among film noir enthusiasts.
