Private Hell 36 (1954)

Two detectives are investigating a robbery in which $300,000 was taken. Their investigation leads them to the main player and they find the cash, but one of them has meanwhile fallen hard ... See full summary »

Director:

Don Siegel

Writers:

Collier Young (written for the screen by), Ida Lupino (written for the screen by)

Stars:

Ida Lupino, Steve Cochran, Howard Duff

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Ida Lupino	...	Lilli Marlowe
Steve Cochran	...	Cal Bruner
Howard Duff	...	Jack Farnham
Dean Jagger	...	Capt. Michaels
Dorothy Malone	...	Francey Farnham
Bridget Duff	...	Bridget Farnham
Jerry Hausner	...	Hausner, Nightclub Owner
Dabbs Greer	...	Sam Marvin, Bartender
Christopher L. O'Brien	...	Coroner (as Chris O'Brien)
Kenneth Patterson	...	Det. Lieutenant Lubin (as Ken Patterson)
George Dockstader	...	Fugitive
Jimmy Hawkins	...	Delivery Boy

Storyline

Two detectives are investigating a robbery in which $300,000 was taken. Their investigation leads them to the main player and they find the cash, but one of them has meanwhile fallen hard for a woman with expensive tastes, and though he desperately wants to keep her, he knows that a cop's salary isn't going to be enough for her.

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Plot Keywords:

detective | los angeles california | character study | female corrupts male | police | 

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Taglines:

These are the Night Faces...living on the edge of evil and violence...making their own(...)

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Film-Noir

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

3 September 1954 (USA)

Also Known As:

Baby Face Killers

Filming Locations:

Hollywood Park Racetrack - 1050 S. Prairie Avenue, Inglewood, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Filmakers, The

Technical Specs

Runtime:

81 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

The end titles are supposed to read as "Made in Hollywood, USA" but Hollywood is misspelled as "Hollwood."

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Quotes

Lilli Marlowe: Ever since I was a little girl, I dreamed I'd meet a drunken slob in a bar who'd give me fifty bucks and we'd live happily ever after.

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Soundtracks

"Didn't You Know?"
Written by John Franco
Performed by Ida Lupino (uncredited)

User Reviews

Good noir film with some solid acting.

Very watchable film, especially scenes with Steve Cochran. He is absolutely beautiful to look at, one of the most gorgeous men ever captured on film. He is also the best actor of the cast, bringing a sly grace to his role. He seems very on target as a cop who sees an opportunity to get rich off of money from a dead murder suspect. Ida Lupino does a capable job as the object of his lust, but she was a bit long in the tooth at that point, and just didn't "fit" as a femme fatale. Howard Duff went way overboard in his portrayal of the "good" cop. His teeth-clenching, jaw-rubbing portrayal of moral dilemma was kind of strained. Dorothy Malone did a suprisingly good job as Duff's wife. Her performance in the film was one of the most subtle she ever gave. The film suffered when it got really bogged down in the middle as they searched for the suspect at the racetrack. A lot of that should have been trimmed out. Otherwise, a nice film for a rainy afternoon.