From the moment you see Molly McCart sitting in the bar with her close-cropped hairdo, it is obvious that her character is up to no good. For the next 75 minutes, you will sit there waiting for her to get her comeuppance and when it happens, you know it won't be enough. Her character is absolutely repulsive on every single level, setting up an old letch in the bar for robbery and going on the run with criminal boyfriend Tommy Cook, taking along innocent accomplice Sue England and holding an elderly couple hostage over the Thanksgiving holidays. These two rebels without causes, along with poor England, sweet old lady Kay Riehl and her newly arrived son Frank Griffin, end up at the top of Griffith Park at the observatory where it all comes together in a dramatic and exciting fashion. It's too bad that what happens in the 65 minutes before contain some of the worst dialogue and acting ever to be seen on the screen.
Riehl and James Bell will instantly win your sympathy in spite of all the hideousness going on as the farm couple who unexpectedly open their door to danger. Riehl, reminding me of Beulah Bondi, instantly won me over (as did husband Bell), but Griffith is a bland if beautiful block of icy manhood. England also wins some sympathy as the innocent girl who didn't know the identity of the man manhandling her while McCart was picking up an old man to rob.
It is obvious that McCart and Cook are not teenagers, and while Cook isn't hideous, he isn't aided by playing a one-dimensional character. Attempts to make McCart sympathetic by having her shown having a nightmare (most likely her descent to the pits of Hades with what she fears will come) and a few reminisces about being passed from sister to sister as a slave don't work either. She does get an ironic last few lines, but by that time, I wanted her taken out in the worst way possible. Cook gets a delightfully undignified exit that had me in hysterics. It is a film so cliched and predictable that there are no elements of surprise. Still, as one of many fun bad movies of the 1950's, it's worth a look as long as you aren't sipping anything when the camping moments occur. People sitting nearby just might end up being the victim of a Danny Thomas spit-take!
Riehl and James Bell will instantly win your sympathy in spite of all the hideousness going on as the farm couple who unexpectedly open their door to danger. Riehl, reminding me of Beulah Bondi, instantly won me over (as did husband Bell), but Griffith is a bland if beautiful block of icy manhood. England also wins some sympathy as the innocent girl who didn't know the identity of the man manhandling her while McCart was picking up an old man to rob.
It is obvious that McCart and Cook are not teenagers, and while Cook isn't hideous, he isn't aided by playing a one-dimensional character. Attempts to make McCart sympathetic by having her shown having a nightmare (most likely her descent to the pits of Hades with what she fears will come) and a few reminisces about being passed from sister to sister as a slave don't work either. She does get an ironic last few lines, but by that time, I wanted her taken out in the worst way possible. Cook gets a delightfully undignified exit that had me in hysterics. It is a film so cliched and predictable that there are no elements of surprise. Still, as one of many fun bad movies of the 1950's, it's worth a look as long as you aren't sipping anything when the camping moments occur. People sitting nearby just might end up being the victim of a Danny Thomas spit-take!