Kansas City Confidential (1952)

Director:

Phil Karlson

Writers:

George Bruce (screenplay) and
Harry Essex (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

11 November 1952 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Film-Noir | Mystery

Tagline:

Exploding! Like a gun in your face!

Plot:

An ex-con trying to go straight is framed for a million dollar armored car robbery and must go to Mexico in order to unmask the real culprits.

Plot Keywords:

Armored Car | Florist | Armored Car Robbery | Heist | Truck Driver

Cast

John Payne	...	Joe Rolfe
Coleen Gray	...	Helen Foster
Preston Foster	...	Tim Foster
Neville Brand	...	Boyd Kane
Lee Van Cleef	...	Tony Romano
Jack Elam	...	Pete Harris
Dona Drake	...	Teresa
Mario Siletti	...	Tomaso
Howard Negley	...	Scott Andrews
Carleton Young	...	Martin
Don Orlando	...	Diaz
Ted Ryan	...	Morelli
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Orlando Beltran	...	Porter (uncredited)
Ray Bennett	...	Prisoner (uncredited)
Barry Brooks	...	Player (uncredited)
Charles Cane	...	Detective Barney (uncredited)
Edward Coch	...	Airline Clerk (uncredited)
James Conaty	...	Man at Craps Table (uncredited)
Tom Dillon	...	Policeman (uncredited)
George Dockstader	...	Policeman (uncredited)
Paul Dubov	...	Eddie (uncredited)
Paul Fierro	...	Paul Garcia - Mexican Chief of Police (uncredited)
Eddie Foster	...	Shooter (uncredited)
Tom Greenway	...	Policeman (uncredited)
William Haade	...	Detective Mullins (uncredited)
Al Hill	...	Stickman #2 (uncredited)
Harry Hines	...	News Vendor (uncredited)
Paul Hogan	...	Bouncer (uncredited)
Don House	...	Policeman (uncredited)
Vivi Janiss	...	Mrs. Rogers (uncredited)
Helen Kleeb	...	Mrs. Crane (uncredited)
Paul Kruger	...	Tough Detective (uncredited)
Mike Lally	...	Stickman #3 (uncredited)
Roger Moore	...	News Vendor's Customer (uncredited)
House Peters Jr.	...	Policeman (uncredited)
Lee Phelps	...	Jailer (uncredited)
Sam Pierce	...	Workman (uncredited)
Joey Ray	...	Houseman (uncredited)
Carlos Rivero	...	Shooter (uncredited)
Ric Roman	...	Rick - Eddie's Brother (uncredited)
Frank J. Scannell	...	Stickman #4 (uncredited)
Sam Scar	...	Player (uncredited)
Jack Shea	...	Policeman (uncredited)
Charles Sherlock	...	Stickman #1 (uncredited)
Brick Sullivan	...	Policeman (uncredited)
Charles Sullivan	...	Player (uncredited)
Phil Tead	...	Mr. Collins (uncredited)
Archie Twitchell	...	Police Dispatcher (uncredited)
George Wallace	...	Olson (uncredited)
Kay Wiley	...	Woman (uncredited)
Jeff York	...	Captain McBride (uncredited)

Directed by
Phil Karlson

Writing credits
George Bruce		(screenplay) and
Harry Essex		(screenplay)
Harold Greene		(story) (as Harold R. Greene) and
Rowland Brown		(story)
Phil Karlson		uncredited
John Payne		uncredited

Produced by
Edward Small	....	producer

Original Music by
Paul Sawtell

Cinematography by
George E. Diskant		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Buddy Small

Art Direction by
Edward L. Ilou

Set Decoration by
Edward R. Robinson		(as Ray Robinson)

Production Management
Ben Hersh	....	production supervisor
Les Nettenstrom	....	assistant production manager (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Ralph E. Black	....	assistant director (as Ralph Black)
Gilbert Mandelik	....	assistant director (uncredited)

Sound Department
Fred Lau	....	sound

Stunts
Gil Perkins	....	stunts (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Joe King	....	wardrobe
Joan Joseff	....	costume jeweller (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Associated Players & Producers

Distributors

• United Artists (1952) (USA) (theatrical)
• United Artists (1953) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Adams Filmi (1955) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Cosmopol-Film (1954) (Austria) (theatrical)
• Alpha Video Distributors (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Finnkino (2008) (Finland) (DVD)
• GoDigital Media Group (2010) (worldwide) (all media) (digital)
• GoodTimes Home Video (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Image Entertainment (2002) (USA) (DVD)
• Reel Media International (2004) (worldwide) (VHS)
• Reel Media International (2007) (worldwide) (all media)
• Republic Pictures Home Video (????) (USA) (VHS)
• United American Video (????) (USA) (VHS)
• Yleisradio (YLE) (1996) (Finland) (TV)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

99 min | West Germany:90 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Spanish

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

USA:Unrated | Canada:PG (Ontario) | West Germany:18 (nf) | Finland:(Banned) (1953) | Finland:K-16 (cut: 1955) | Finland:K-18 (DVD rating: 2008) | Australia:PG | Portugal:M/12 | Sweden:15

Filming Locations:

Samuel Goldwyn Studios - 7200 Santa Monica Boulevard, West Hollywood, California, USA

Company:

Associated Players & Producers

Trivia:

Veteran actor Preston Foster plays a character whose last name is also Foster.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When Rolfe sees Romano and Kane's reflection on the front glass of Foster's car, he sees their exact position in the backseat, not the mirrored.

Quotes:

Teresa:[Showing off the earings she wants him to buy as 'souvenirs'] Tony, you're not even looking at how pretty they are and only 11 American dollars!
Tony Romano:[Looking at her knowingly] Everything around here's 11 bucks!
Teresa:Tony, you like?
Tony Romano:Charge it with the rest.
Teresa:[Happily] Gracias, Tony!
Tony Romano:[Knowingly] See ya later!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "M*A*S*H: The Gun (#4.13)" (1975)

Soundtrack:

La Cucaracha

Exceptional Noir--a must-see for fans of the genre

This is an exceptional Film Noir movie that almost merits a score of 9--it's THAT good. Like good Noir, it features some of the ugliest and scariest actors and I applaud the producers for finding such a motley group! Jack Elam, Lee Van Cleef and Neville Brand are definitely the ugliest and toughest looking heavies of the age and here they all work together on a heist. The movie also stars John Payne and Preston Foster. While these two guys weren't as hideous as the other three, they were both well past their handsome prime--hence they were great Noir characters! In addition, the film is bloody and violent--definite pluses for Noir. While this may sound like Noir films are super-violent, they were compared to the average picture of the day but pale in comparison to more recent films. I like them because they are so gritty and realistic in their blunt portrayal of crime. In this case, watching John Payne slap the snot out of Van Cleef is an amazing scene. As for the plot, it's amazingly complex and interesting. So good, in fact, that I don't want to talk about the heist--lest if ruin the suspense. Suffice to say, it's well worth seeing with great writing, acting and all the elements you are looking for in Noir. A must-see for lovers of the genre.