Crime Wave (1954)

Reformed parolee Steve Lacey is caught in the middle when a wounded former cellmate seeks him out for shelter.

Director:

André De Toth

Writers:

Crane Wilbur (screen play), Bernard Gordon (adaptation),

Stars:

Sterling Hayden, Gene Nelson, Phyllis Kirk

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Sterling Hayden	...	Det. Lt. Sims
Gene Nelson	...	Steve Lacey
Phyllis Kirk	...	Ellen Lacey
Ted de Corsia	...	'Doc' Penny
Charles Bronson	...	Ben Hastings (as Charles Buchinsky)
Jay Novello	...	Dr. Otto Hessler
Nedrick Young	...	Gat Morgan (as Ned Young)
James Bell	...	Daniel O'Keefe
Dub Taylor	...	Gus Snider (as Dubb Taylor)
Gayle Kellogg	...	Detective Kelly
Mack Chandler	...	Detective Sully

Storyline

Three San Quentin escapees (Penny, Hastings and Morgan) kill a cop in a gas-station holdup. Wounded, Morgan flees through black-shadowed streets to the handiest refuge: with former cellmate Steve Lacey, who's paroled, with a new life and lovely wife, and can't afford to be caught associating with old cronies. But homicide detective Sims wants to use Steve to help him catch Penny and Hastings, who in turn extort his help in a bank job. Is there no way out for Steve?

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Plot Keywords:

gas station | bank | downtown la | abortionist | murder | 

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Genres:

Crime | Film-Noir | Drama

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

6 March 1954 (USA)

Also Known As:

Von der Polizei gehetzt

Filming Locations:

Whiteman Airport - 12657 Osborne Street, Pacoima, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros

Technical Specs

Runtime:

73 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Although the movie was completed in 1952, it was not released until 1954.

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Goofs

When Nedrick Young (as Gat Morgan) is first shot, he grabs his chest by the right pectoral. When he grabs his wound later, it has migrated to the lower center abdomen.

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Quotes

'Doc' Penny: Think about that wife of yours, Steve. You can't afford to make any mistakes.

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Connections

Featured in Sodankylä ikuisesti: Elokuvan vuosisata (2010)

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Soundtracks

"Bringing in the Sheaves"
Music by George A. Minor
Played by the Salvation Army band

User Reviews

A Cold. Nasty Little Noir

And we fans of film noir prize nastiness and cold-heartedness. We also like small movies.

Gene Nelson is very affecting as a parolee who is dragged into a crime against his will. Phyllis Kirk is fine as his wife. She doesn't add much flavor but she's believably loyal.

For flavor, we have none other than Timothy Carey! He is one of the bad guys. Charles Bronson, early in his career, is another. Carey adds a great deal of creepiness to the goings-on.

Sterling Hayden is excellent as the cynical cop who's called in. Though the plot tells us nothing about him other than that he's given up smoking and misses it, he is clearly not a warm human being. His eyes squint and shift. He doesn't trust anyone and it's very possible he doesn't like much of anyone, either.

The movie begins with Dub Taylor as an exceptionally goofy gas station attendant. He's like a character from the "Ma and Pa Kettle" series. But our villains knock him out and rob him, which is a jarring contrast.

The characters are very well drawn in "Crime Wave." It has a tough plot but the people are what elevates it to a high status.