Special Features:
NONE

Film noir honestly does not get much better than this. Director Joseph H. Lewis is on the top of his game in this 1955 movie and with John Alton as the Director of Photography this is a visual masterpiece of shadows and light.

The story (a good cop trying to bring down the mob boss) is honestly nothing original (even for the 1950's), but each of the actors brings their character to life in a way that it all seems fresh. Richard Conte pushes his performance right to the edge but never crosses the line. He is the perfect mob boss. Confident, smart and willing to be brutal when necessary. He honestly has everyone figured out.

Many of you may not understand the allure of black and white films to the film buff, but I will point you to a simple example of its power from the opening scene of this film. (You obviously will need to see it to completely understand what I am talking about)

Susan (Jean Wallace) is running away from her boyfriend's goons. As they catch up to her we see a man at a burger stand talking to the cook. He looks up as they go by. Eventually the goons catch Susan and are escorting her away. As they pass, the camera hangs back and the man at the burger stand starts walking towards the camera. He starts in light in the wide shot which then goes to black on his face and then just as he get to a close up his face comes back in to the light and we see the concern on his face. This may not sound like much, but the black and white imagery brings so much more to this simple shot of a man waking towards the camera than color ever could.

You should immediately add this film to your Netflix queue.

(February 2007)