Once a Thief (1950)

A down-on-her-luck San Francisco woman, turning in desperation to jewel robbery, barely escapes getting nabbed in a heist and moves to Los Angeles where she gets an honest job as a waitress... See full summary »

Director:

W. Lee Wilder

Writers:

Richard S. Conway (screenplay), Max Kolpé (based on a story by),

Stars:

Cesar Romero, June Havoc, Marie McDonald

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Cesar Romero	...	Mitch Moore
June Havoc	...	Margie Foster
Marie McDonald	...	Flo
Lon Chaney Jr.	...	Gus (as Lon Chaney)
Iris Adrian	...	Pearl
Jack Daly	...	Eddie
Marta Mitrovich	...	Nickie
Ann Tyrrell	...	Dr. Borden
Michael Mark	...	Milton
Kathleen Freeman	...	Phoebe
Dana Broccoli	...	Jane (as Dana Wilson)
Bill Baldwin	...	Bondsman
Frances Blumfeld	...	Lt. Francis Blumfield (as Lt. Frances Blumfeld)
Gwendolyn Dusuau	...	Deputy Gwendolyn Dusuau (as Deputy Gwendolyn Dusuau)
John P. Battema	...	Chaplain John P. Battema (as Chaplain John P. Battema)

Storyline

A down-on-her-luck San Francisco woman, turning in desperation to jewel robbery, barely escapes getting nabbed in a heist and moves to Los Angeles where she gets an honest job as a waitress. Her troubles start again, however, when she falls madly in love, blind to the fact that her boyfriend is a four-flushing, small-time con man.

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Plot Keywords:

restaurant | con man | waitress | shoplifting | shoplifter | 

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Taglines:

She was MANHANDLED... MISUSED... DISCARDED!

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Genres:

Crime | Film-Noir | Drama

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

7 July 1950 (USA)

Also Known As:

De dievegge

Company Credits

Production Co:

W. Lee Wilder Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

88 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

Female prison inmate guzzles poisonous rubbing alcohol in dentist's office with no ill effects.

User Reviews

Cheap Thrills With Class

Here is Cesar Romero as the ultimately garish but smooth cad(driving a Cadillac on the repo list to boot) who is out for what he can get and getting away with it for most of this tacky but tantalizing little opus. Poor June Havoc is the harried heroine who gets hooked up with the wrong people with virtually every turn she makes.

Marie Mcdonald('The Body'coined by some overheated, trench-coated Hollywood press agent) plays "Flo" the virtuous girl next door yet she still radiates a measure of OOOOMPH! on screen.

Made on a frayed shoelace budget, this film still uses its minimal set pieces to the max. The dialogue is as strong as a scalding pot of coffee bubbling on a hot plate. Watch out for Lon Chaney,Jr. as Romero's 'yes man' with a heart. Iris Adrian as the girl who leads June Havoc down the wrong path almost steals the show as well.

ONCE A THIEF is like cheap perfume. Packaged properly, one whiff and you're hooked. Give it ***(out of **** stars).