sleep, my love (1948)
Sirk shows plenty of the expert construction that would mark his later works, and though Sleep, My Love is itself marked by sensuous imagery and deliciously noir performances (especially from Colbert), it can't rise above a plot that is only filled with mild intrigue. It is a wonder to behold beyond that, however; each scene bursting with rich and vivid visuals. The power of Sirk's images is usually attributed to his oversaturated colors, but here it is plainly obvious there's more to it than that as not an ounce of impact is lost in the deep black and white photography.