The Last Crooked Mile (1946)

The notorious Jarvis gang robs a bank, one member is killed in the subsequent shootout, they ditch the getaway car, but are recognized at a roadblock as they take it on the lam and are ... See full summary »

Director:

Philip Ford

Writers:

Jerome Gruskin (adaptation), Robert L. Richards (play),

Stars:

Don 'Red' Barry, Ann Savage, Adele Mara

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Don 'Red' Barry	...	Tom Dwyer (as Donald Barry)
Ann Savage	...	Sheila Kennedy
Adele Mara	...	Bonnie
Tom Powers	...	Floyd Sorelson
Sheldon Leonard	...	Ed 'Wires' MacGuire
Nestor Paiva	...	Ferrara
Harry Shannon	...	Police Lieutenant Blake
Ben Welden	...	Haynes, a thug
John Miljan	...	Police Lieutenant Mayrin
Charles D. Brown	...	Dietrich, Bank President
John Dehner	...	Jarvis, Gang Leader
Anthony Caruso	...	Charlie, Gang Member

Storyline

The notorious Jarvis gang robs a bank, one member is killed in the subsequent shootout, they ditch the getaway car, but are recognized at a roadblock as they take it on the lam and are killed in a car chase. The getaway car is sold to a carnival sideshow, where an insurance investigator and some surviving gang members start poking around in search of the missing cash. The investigator tracks down the now-dead Jarvis's girlfriend at a cabaret, and several murders and violent incidents (including a dead body on the rollercoaster) occur as he narrows in on the culprits.

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Plot Keywords:

based on play

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Taglines:

High pressure drama of HOT MONEY in a GETAWAY CAR!

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Genres:

Crime | Drama

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

9 August 1946 (USA)

Also Known As:

Caminhos Tortuosos

Company Credits

Production Co:

Republic Pictures (I)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

67 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

User Reviews

Fun at the fairground

Donaid Barry (Tom) plays a private detective who sets out to discover where the hidden loot from the recent Jarvis gang robbery is hidden. He's after a percentage of the reward for finding it and gets the OK from police to help in the search. This takes him to a fairground where the original car that was used in the Jarvis robbery is being used as a showpiece. However, it is also attracting interest from other parties.

This film has a good cast and starts well. It hooks you in with the Jarvis gang robbery and we follow the getaway car as it is chased through the country until disaster strikes. The criminal gang are all very convincing. But they don't last long! The rest of the cast are all good - I personally like gangster Sheldon Leonard ('Wires' MacGuire) and I felt sorry for bimbo-babe Adele Mara (Bonnie) who is always left standing alone somewhere while Barry shoots off on another task. She provides the comedy factor along with some of the dialogue. It's snappy and funny throughout. Donald Barry comes across as a James Cagney type character and he is just on the right side of annoying - he's likable and carries the film but its a fine line that he is treading.

There is a lot of action in this short film and the pace and the dialogue make it an entertaining experience. You may guess where the money is hidden but there is a twist in the story that you may not expect.