I had seen The Big Steal many years ago and saw it again this morning on TCM. It was shorter than most features were then and Robert Osborn told us why. It was a film started while Robert Mitchum was out on bail while his marijuana bust was pending, postponed while he was in the Los Angeles County Jail, and hurriedly finished to take advantage of the notoriety.
As opposed to the finely crafted noir that Robert Mitchum and Jane Greer starred in two years before, Out of the Past, The Big Steal sort of has that slapdash quality about it. But the stars are enjoyable.
Patric Knowles steals an army payroll that Captain Mitchum is blamed for. Knowles also runs out on fiancé Jane Greer and steals their honeymoon nest egg. Both combine to chase Knowles and Mitchum steals William Bendix's credentials as an army cop who's been trailing Mitchum.
For most of the film they're all in cars driving across Mexico, Knowles being chased by Mitchum/Greer and them being chased by Bendix. It's here where the film takes on a breezy air about it. Particularly funny are two ruses that Mitchum and Greer use to stall Bendix. You'll enjoy it, I promise you.
Also look for fine character actor John Qualen to play a role against type here.
Mitchum's stay in the slam didn't effect his box office any. Moviegoers in 1949 I'm sure enjoyed The Big Steal.
As opposed to the finely crafted noir that Robert Mitchum and Jane Greer starred in two years before, Out of the Past, The Big Steal sort of has that slapdash quality about it. But the stars are enjoyable.
Patric Knowles steals an army payroll that Captain Mitchum is blamed for. Knowles also runs out on fiancé Jane Greer and steals their honeymoon nest egg. Both combine to chase Knowles and Mitchum steals William Bendix's credentials as an army cop who's been trailing Mitchum.
For most of the film they're all in cars driving across Mexico, Knowles being chased by Mitchum/Greer and them being chased by Bendix. It's here where the film takes on a breezy air about it. Particularly funny are two ruses that Mitchum and Greer use to stall Bendix. You'll enjoy it, I promise you.
Also look for fine character actor John Qualen to play a role against type here.
Mitchum's stay in the slam didn't effect his box office any. Moviegoers in 1949 I'm sure enjoyed The Big Steal.