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Out of the Fog has everything going for it that a great 1940s noir-ish thriller needs -- except a top-notch script. The Irwin Shaw play that serves as its basis is too symbolically didactic by half, and despite the best efforts of all involved to open it up, it still feels stage-bound and artificial. To make matters worse, the censors of the time prohibited the film from keeping the play's controversial ending, in which the two good men actually succeed in premeditatedly murdering the force of evil that has come to dominate their lives and the lives of all around them. Yet in spite of these flaws, Fog manages to be a pretty good, often gripping little melodrama, thanks to Anatole Litvak's taut, skillful direction and a dream cast. As the overpowering bully, John Garfield is incredibly powerful, fully committed to the role and never succumbing to the temptation to soften his character in order to avoid alienating his fans. Garfield is sinister, evil, and inhuman -- yet dangerously fascinating, letting the audience see how Ida Lupino could be attracted to him. Lupino is also quite good, though hampered by poor writing and character development; even better are Thomas Mitchell and John Qualen, who manage to wrest control of the film away from Garfield -- no mean feat. To top things off, James Wong Howe has filmed the piece beautifully, with atmospheric blacks and grays that add immeasurably to Fog's impact. If Out of the Fog's screenplay keeps it from classic status, its assets still provide ample rewards.