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Category Archives: 1949

Criss Cross (1949)

Posted on June 19, 2013 | 2 comments

Criss Cross

Directed by Robert Siodmak
1949/US
Universal International Pictures
First viewing

Steve Thompson: She’s all right, she’s just young.
Mrs. Thompson: Huh! Some ways, she knows more than Einstein.

This goes back to the roots of the classic film noir story line with its tortured leading man and femme fatale. With Burt Lancaster and Dan Duryea in the cast I had high hopes going in and got the added benefit of an excellent performance by a young and lovely Yvonne DeCarlo.

Lancaster plays Steve Thompson, a young man who has travelled the country seeking to get over his divorce from wife Anna (De Carlo). The fickle finger of fate has no mercy, however, and when Steve returns to town Anna makes a point of looking him up. Steve is rehired for his old job at an armored car company and they see each other for a while. Suddenly, Anna tires of being warned off Steve by all his friends (who think she is bad, bad news) and decides to marry gangster Slim Dundee (Duryea), again breaking Steve’s heart.

But some people can’t learn and when Anna tires of the abusive Slim, Steve is ready to take her in his arms. When the two are caught together, Steve concocts a story that he actually was trying to get in touch with Slim about an armored car hold up. This being noir things do not end well. The interest is in seeing how events unfold.

Criss Cross 1

I enjoyed this very much although it didn’t meet the expectations I had for more of a heist movie based on the trailer. Most of the film is occupied with the on again, off again romance. Lancaster is always good and De Carlo was a revelation. I don’t know if I’ve seen her before except as Lily Munster.

There is also the thrill of recognizing an uncredited Tony Curtis as De Carlo’s dance partner in an early scene!

Trailer

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Posted in 1949, Noir Month

Tagged 1949, film noir, Hollywood, Siodmak

The Set-Up (1949)

Posted on June 2, 2013 | 4 comments

The Set-Up

Directed by Robert Wise
1949/USA
RKO Radio Pictures
Repeat viewing

Stoker Thompson: Everybody makes book on something.

This superbly acted and utterly grim boxing film is a noir classic of the genre. The movie is one of the few to be told in real time. The action encompasses the 73 minutes it takes to tell the tale.

Stoker Thompson (Robert Ryan) is a washed-up fighter taking matches at the bottom of bills in regional clubs. His manager has so little faith in him that he takes a bribe for Stoker to throw a fight without bothering to tell his man. Stoker’s wife Julie (Audrey Totter) pleads with Stoker to give up the game and refuses to attend this night’s fight because she doesn’t want to see him beat up. Her absence eats away at Stoker and makes him more determined than ever to win his bout. Most of the last two-thirds of the film takes place either in the ring or in the dressing-room.

The Set-Up 1

I think Robert Ryan is one of the great actors of the 40’s, 50’s and 60’s and he is phenomenal in this movie. He tells more with his eyes in a single close up than most actors can with pages of dialogue. Audrey Totter did not have a big career but is also excellent as are the supporting players. Both these actors may be better known for playing heavies but handle these sympathetic roles well.

The great noir cinematography is by Milton Krasner who won an award for his work here at Cannes. Robert Wise keeps everything flowing brilliantly. I especially liked the use of the bloodthirsty fans in the crowd, who are almost like a Greek chorus. Not an uplifting experience but highly recommended.