...but in the end it falls flat. Steve Garry (Dane Clark) is on the run from the police because he is a material witness in the murder trial of a friend of his who is accused of murdering his wife. The problem is that anything Garry would say would implicate his friend, not clear him. He runs to the home of his ex-wife, Virginia (Cathy O'Donnell), to hide out. She divorced him because he was a gambler and not trustworthy. But before he can move on from her house she is followed home by a lecherous cop who is planning to assault her when he is confronted by Garry, who accidentally kills him in a fight. Garry disposes of the body trying to make it look like a drunk driving accident. So now Garry and his ex wife have real trouble on their hands.
The cast is excellent - I have always believed Dane Clark was underrated and underused, especially in his time over at Warner Brothers. But the direction is really uninspired. And then there are all of those annoying supporting players who usually make little crime films like these. There is Virginia's annoying elderly neighbor who - comes over to borrow two dollars??? That would be 40 dollars in today's money. Who does such things? I don't remember her returning it either. Then there is the night shift bus driver who has to have a job he hates, or is at least bored by it, who remembers everybody who was on the bus the night before with perfect clarity. And his wife - who can't shut up about how dishonest he is to the cops - She may hate living with the guy, but he is her bread and butter and yet she acts like she wants him arrested. Cathy Donnelly's doe-eyed act was great in "They Live By Night" but here it just outstays its welcome. And it looks odd in contrast to all of the other 20 something women in the cast who look and sound like they are doing Virginia Mayo imitations from White Heat.
It has a great twist in the end, but overall it cries out for a script rewrite and better direction.
The cast is excellent - I have always believed Dane Clark was underrated and underused, especially in his time over at Warner Brothers. But the direction is really uninspired. And then there are all of those annoying supporting players who usually make little crime films like these. There is Virginia's annoying elderly neighbor who - comes over to borrow two dollars??? That would be 40 dollars in today's money. Who does such things? I don't remember her returning it either. Then there is the night shift bus driver who has to have a job he hates, or is at least bored by it, who remembers everybody who was on the bus the night before with perfect clarity. And his wife - who can't shut up about how dishonest he is to the cops - She may hate living with the guy, but he is her bread and butter and yet she acts like she wants him arrested. Cathy Donnelly's doe-eyed act was great in "They Live By Night" but here it just outstays its welcome. And it looks odd in contrast to all of the other 20 something women in the cast who look and sound like they are doing Virginia Mayo imitations from White Heat.
It has a great twist in the end, but overall it cries out for a script rewrite and better direction.