Raw Deal (1948)

Joe Sullivan is itching to get out of prison. He's taken the rap for Rick, who owes him $50 Grand. Rick sets up an escape for Joe, knowing that Joe will be caught escaping and be shot or ... See full summary »

Director:

Anthony Mann

Writers:

Leopold Atlas, John C. Higgins,

Stars:

Dennis O'Keefe, Claire Trevor, Marsha Hunt

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Dennis O'Keefe	...	Joseph Emmett (Joe) Sullivan
Claire Trevor	...	Pat Cameron
Marsha Hunt	...	Ann Martin
John Ireland	...	Fantail
Raymond Burr	...	Rick Coyle
Curt Conway	...	Spider
Chili Williams	...	Marcy
Regis Toomey	...	Police Capt. Fields (as Richard Fraser)
Whit Bissell	...	Murderer
Cliff Clark	...	Gates

Storyline

Joe Sullivan is itching to get out of prison. He's taken the rap for Rick, who owes him $50 Grand. Rick sets up an escape for Joe, knowing that Joe will be caught escaping and be shot or locked away forever. But with the help of his love-struck girl Pat and his sympathetic legal caseworker Ann, Joe gets further than he's supposed to, and we are posed with two very important questions: Is Joe really the cold and heartless criminal he appears to be, or is there a heart of gold under that gritty exterior? And does Joe belong with the tough, street-wise Pat, or with the prim, moralizing Ann?

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Plot Keywords:

set up | prison | policeman | mobster | violence | 

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Taglines:

Bullets! Women! -- Can't Hold a Man Like This!

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Genres:

Crime | Film-Noir | Drama

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

26 May 1948 (USA)

Also Known As:

Corkscrew Alley

Company Credits

Production Co:

Edward Small Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

79 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Quotes

Joseph Emmett Sullivan: I want to breathe. That's why I want out of this place... so I can take a deep breath again.

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Connections

Featured in A Personal Journey with Martin Scorsese Through American Movies (1995)

User Reviews

Such gorgeous sets, lights, and camera...night noir moodiness

Raw Deal (1948)

What a moody, dark, steamy, dangerous drama. The story is a little clunky at times, but with this much atmosphere, who cares? Between classic early Anthony Mann (the director) and classic early John Alton (the cinematographer), there is no doubt about wanting to get sucked in, dragged down, swept away, and wowed. It really is a beautiful, brooding movie.

The key theme is escape, as a convict is on the run and he takes two women with him, one his girlfriend who is sort of "bad" and one an admirer who is basically "good." The two don't get along of course, and in the process of fleeing from one situation to another (pretty much always at night) we see the man switch from one kind of woman to another. This man is Dennis O'Keefe, who is strong and almost better here because he isn't well known and there is no baggage from other movies and other roles. The women are played by Claire Trevor, who is terrific, and Marsha Hunt, who is not--though she holds her own. Other smaller parts are gritty and impressive, including Raymond Burr as a very bad man, always photographed from below so he seems sinister.

If the escape and the running were the whole movie, it would have been compact and effective, a tight little piece following these three on the road, hiding, and eventually fighting for their survival. There is one odd and highly improbable scene were they happen upon another criminal running from the police. It's good drama, but too coincidental, out in the mountains of the Pacific Northwest. Otherwise the parts are strong, the story well paced.

And the visuals just stunning. That's the biggest reason to watch. And get pulled away.