While the camera work and setting sure isn't film noir, other than this it seems fit into this category. The story begins years after a diamond robbery. One of the men responsible was caught and sent to prison--but he never talked and the police still have no idea where they are stashed. Now that he's out, he and his old partner are going to sell them and become rich. However, when the deal occurs, a group of thugs arrive to steal the stones. In a twist, the ex-prisoner swallows the stones and jumps from the roof--dying a short time later in the hospital. The gang now wants to claim the body so they can cut the diamonds out of the dead man--but when his sister comes to claim the body, their plan is frustrated. They claim that out of a gesture of friendship they would like to pay for the funeral--but they actually want a chance to get the stones. She refuses. There is MUCH more to the film than this--including a dandy final confrontation scene. But I don't want to say more--it might spoil the suspense.
The plot is very good and the action scenes well-handled. The film is also a bit more sexual than American noir of the period--though there is no actual nudity seen on screen. The only negative is that unlike the best noir, the camera work and lighting are a bit on the mundane side. Still, a very interesting action film that seemed to get better as the film progressed.
By the way, get a load of the scene where the guy in the white sport coat is shot twice in the back. There is no blood and the coat color makes it really, really obvious. Oddly, however, later in the film you did see blood. Perhaps they didn't want to mess up a perfectly good coat!
The plot is very good and the action scenes well-handled. The film is also a bit more sexual than American noir of the period--though there is no actual nudity seen on screen. The only negative is that unlike the best noir, the camera work and lighting are a bit on the mundane side. Still, a very interesting action film that seemed to get better as the film progressed.
By the way, get a load of the scene where the guy in the white sport coat is shot twice in the back. There is no blood and the coat color makes it really, really obvious. Oddly, however, later in the film you did see blood. Perhaps they didn't want to mess up a perfectly good coat!