Crime Wave (AKA “The City Is Dark”)
Directed by André de Toth
Written by Crane Wilber, Bernard Gordon, and Richard Wormser based on the story “Criminal’s Mark” by John and Ward Hawkins
1954/USA
Warner Bros.
First viewing/Warner Film Noir Classic Collection Vol. 4
[box] Steve Lacey: Once you do a stretch, you’re never clean again! You’re never free! They’ve always got a string on you, and they tug, tug, tug! Before you know it, you’re back again![/box]
This is a good-looking police procedural featuring Sterling Hayden on the side of righteousness for a change and an early performance by Charles Buchinsky, soon to be known as Charles Bronson.
Ex-convict Steve Lacey (Gene Nelson) has gone straight and now lives a quiet life with his wife Ellen (Phyllis Kirk) and works as an airplane mechanic. Their domestic bliss is shattered when a hood turns up wounded in a gas station robbery and looking for Steve’s assistance. He dies before Steve can help or get rid of him and the couple has no choice but to call Steve’s parole officer. Lt. Det. Sims (Hayden) of homicide, called in because a police officer was killed in the robbery, had figured out that the robbery was done by a trio who had served time with Steve and was already on the way over.
Sims hauls Steve into jail and pumps him for information. He gets none but releases him anyway. The couple’s luck turns from bad to worse when the remaining two thugs (Ted De Corsa and Bronson) move in on them and force Steve to participate in a bank robbery. With the very weird Timothy Carey chewing the scenery as a psycho thug.
What was it about Sterling Hayden? He is as stiff and monotone as can be and yet is so oddly compelling as an actor. He certainly dominates this film with his strong-arm tactics and the toothpick constantly protruding from his mouth. Song-and-dance man Gene Nelson (Oklahoma) gives a nice performance as the trapped Steve. De Toth reportedly was given the opportunity to have Bogart in the lead and a 35-day shooting schedule. He agreed to make the movie in 15 days if he could have Hayden and made the movie in 13 days. It worked out to be a superior “B” noir with some beautiful nighttime cinematography by Ford-favorite Bert Glennon.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H3BTKD5t6ZY
Trailer – cinematography by Bert Glennon
