On this day in 1947, M-G-M released the film noir classic, LADY IN THE LAKE. Based on the book by RAYMOND CHANDLER, the film was directed by ROBERT MONTGOMERY, who also took the lead as Phillip Marlowe (probably CHANDLER’S best known creation).

The big twist was that the film was shot from Marlowe’s point-of-view so that he was only visable to the audience when passing a reflective surface (such as a mirror). The gimmick may have gotten old but, somehow, the movie remains immensely watchable.