Crime Wave. Sterling Hayden plays a hard-boiled cop who is sure that a parolee is not going straight after a series of hold-ups. Gene Nelson and Phyllis Kirk also star as the parolee and his wife in this 1954 drama set in the mean streets of LA. A young Charles Bronson, then acting under the name Charles Buchinsky, appears as one of the gang members. 74 minutes. CC.
Andre de Toth directed this film in realistic fashion. Much of it was shot outdoors and it is hard to imagine the streets of mid-twentieth century LA depicted any better. He also avoided big name stars and the cast looks like ordinary Americans. Sterling Hayden played a criminal in noir classics like The Killing, and The Asphalt Jungle but here he is equally fine as a jaded police detective. Gene Nelson was a song and dance man who is best known for his appearance in the film version of Oklahoma. Phyllis Kirk had previously played only small roles in musicals and light comedies.
For a fine introduction here is a link to the intro by Eddie Muller of TCM's Noir Alley.
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| Phyllis Kirk and Gene Nelson |
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