Private Hell 36 (1954)

Director:

Don Siegel

Writers:

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

Release Date:

3 September 1954 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Film-Noir

Tagline:

THEY LIVE BY NIGHT... (original print ad - all caps)

Plot:

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...

Plot Keywords:

Detective | Los Angeles California | Beautiful Woman | Female Corrupts Male | Police

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
Chris O'Brien	...	Coroner
Kenneth Patterson	...	Detective Lieutenant Lubin (as Ken Patterson)
George Dockstader	...	Fugitive
Jimmy Hawkins	...	Delivery Boy

Also Known As:

Baby Face Killers (USA) (reissue title)

Runtime:

81 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Certification:

West Germany:16 (nf) | USA:Approved | Finland:K-16 | Spain:7

Filming Locations:

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

Company:

Filmakers, The

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When Bruner and Farnham celebrate the official conclusion of the case at home with the ladies, the coffee table seems to have a loose leg. However, Farnham very obviously kicks off the loose leg with his left foot so that it can fall off.

Soundtrack:

Didn't You Know?

An effective early Siegel

This taut, low-key and highly effective B-movie film noir was an early example of a style that director Don Siegel came to perfect in his later films. Although dealing with robbery and murder it's at its most effective in the small scenes of domesticity between the central characters, a crooked cop, his partner and the women they are both involved with and there are good performances from Steve Cochran, Howard Duff, Ida Lupino and Dorothy Malone in these roles. (Lupino co-wrote the movie with producer Collier Young). Excitement is generated from not knowing exactly which way the characters might go and from the degree of complexity that both the players and writers invest them with. The denouement is a bit of let-down, however, with things tidied up too quickly and too neatly. Still, it's a commendable effort.