Released - November, 1952 

Directed By - Phil Karlson

Starring – John Payne (Joe Rolfe), Coleen Gray (Helen Foster), Preston Foster (Tim Foster), Neville Brand (Boyd Kane), Lee Van Cleef (Tony Romano).

Description – Joe Rolfe is an ex-GI, and an ex-con who has just been vioently interrogated by the police. Working as a delivery driver for a flower company, it seems Joe is being framed for a million dollar armored truck robbery.

Temporarily released due to a lack of evidence, Joe sets out to clear his name. The clues he turns up take him to a fishing resort in a small town in Mexico. There’s not much else to go on as the real culprits committed the crime wearing masks and even they don’t know what the other looks like.

A nice little crime caper with a few surprises.

NOTABLE: Some believe that this film played a role in inspiring Quentin Tarantino’s excellent crime drama Reservoir Dogs. 

Kansas City Confidential

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Released - November, 1951 

Directed By - William Wyler

Starring – Kirk Douglas (Det. Jim McLeod), Eleanor Parker (Mary McLeod), William Bendix (Det. Lou Brody), Cathy O’Donnell (Susan Carmichael), George Macready (Dr. Karl Schneider), Horace McMahon (Lt. Monaghan).

Description – A day in the life at N.Y.C. 21st precinct detective squad and their ongoing battle with the city’s lowlife. Police Detective Jim McLeod is obsessed with bringing abortionist Dr. Karl Schneider to justice and his investigation uncovers a painful secret that threatens his marriage.

Also passing through the precinct on this day will be an attractive young embezzler, a naive and frightened shoplifter, and a pair of burglars; one of which will go on to become a murderer before the day is over.

NOTABLE: This motion picture was nominated for four Oscar’s; Best Director (Wyler), Best Actress in a Leading Role (Eleanor Parker), Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Lee Grant), and Best Writing, Screenplay.

This was actress Lee Grant’s first film role, and her last before being blacklisted as a result of the paranoia during the investigations by the House on Un-American Activities Committee during the 1950′s. She would resume, what was a very distinguished acting career, in the 1960′s.

Personal Comment: This movie was based on the stage play of the same name, and was filmed with the ‘stage play’ feel still intact. A strong and intense performance by Kirk Douglas who worked surrounded by an excellent supporting cast playing an outstanding variety of characters. Take note of the great job done by Joseph Wiseman as one of the two burglers who becomes a murderer.

Detective Story (1951)

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Released – February, 1951 

Directed By - Bretaigne Windust

Starring – Humphrey Bogart (District Attorney Martin Ferguson), Zero Mostel (Big Babe Lazik), Ted de Corsia (Joseph Rico), Everett Sloane (Albert Mendoza).

Description – This film is loosely based on the real-life Murder, Inc. trials and takes place mainly in falshback. District Attorney Ferguson works tirelessly in his efforts to break up a murder-for-hire gang, but has one particularily large problem.

Gang boss Albert Mendoza has a bad habit of killing anyone who even hints at testifying against him. Just when it looks like the D.A. might finally be able to make his case with the help of underworld informer Joseph Rico, the informer falls to his death.

Now, it’s back to square-one with time running out.

NOTABLE: Director Windust, a noted Broadway director, fell ill during the making of this film and was helped by Raoul Walsh who was brought in to complete the job. Walsh was not interested in receiving any credit, feeling that this was Windust’s film.

The Enforcer

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Released – August, 1950 

Directed By - Gordon Douglas

Starring – James Cagney (Ralph Cotter), Barbara Payton (Holiday Carleton), Helena Carter (Margaret Dobson), Ward Bond (Inspector Charles Weber), Luther Adler (Keith ‘Cherokee’ Mandon, Barton MacLane (Lt. John Reese).

Description – After escaping prison, ruthless gangster Ralph Cotter murders his former partner in crime.  Returning to a life of crime, Ralph is immediately successful until running into a couple of corrupt cops who intend to shake him down. 

A classic B gangster movie, violent and fact-paced as only Cagney can do it.

NOTABLE: This film was banned in Ohio where they felt it was “a sordid presentation of brutality and an extreme presentation of crime with explicit steps in commission.”

This film was produced by James Cagney’s brother William.

Buy Here Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye

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