After bumping up from perennial leading man to A-list topper via SUNSET BOULEVARD/’50, William Holden’s string of ‘50s classics left even solid genre fare, like this William Dieterle mob exposé, lost in the shuffle. (Also not helped by sharing a title with an unrelated prestige-item multi-Oscar-nominated 1977 film.*) Here, Holden’s big city crime reporter worries that long time pal Edmond O’Brien, new D.A. on the mob beat, doesn’t know what he’s getting into. And he’s right since O’Brien’s policeman Dad is already compromised by various favors he’s been trading for years (mostly cash for info) with Ed Begley’s modern businessman mob head; even more because O’Brien’s classy secretary/fiancée (Alexis Smith), quickly succumbs to Holden’s manly charms . . . and height, a helpful two or three inches taller than Smith’s 5'9". The investigation and pursuit are fairly straightforward, but a fair amount of suspense going toward the climax and real interest throughout in watching Dieterle join the Hollywood bandwagon transitionng (partially) toward real location shooting, with cinematographer Lionel Lindon finding all sorts of interest whenever they move onto real city streets and actual building interiors. A boxing-match sports arena finale really kicks ass. Plus a mini-fest of character actors even in tiny roles and a debut for Carolyn Jones busy making like Judy Holliday in her one scene.
DOUBLE-BILL/LINK: *More undeservedly ‘lost’ Holden in Rudolph Maté’s UNION STATION/’50. https://maksquibs.blogspot.com/2011/04/union-station-1950.html
CONTEST: What actor in this film shares a birth name with a fellow Canadian who became a Hollywood movie star? Name the two stars, along with the shared birth name, to win a MAKSQUIBS Write-Up of your choosing. (Assuming I can get hold of it!)
No comments:
Post a Comment