Man in the Vault (1956)

User Rating:

5.8/10   

Director:

Andrew V. McLaglen

Writers:

Burt Kennedy (screenplay)
Frank Gruber (novel)

Release Date:

12 December 1956 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Film-Noir

Tagline:

Forced Into Crime To Save The Girl He Loved!

Plot:

A locksmith gets caught up in a bank robbery.

Plot Keywords:

Locksmith | Murder | Bowling | Kidnapping | Safe Deposit

Cast

William Campbell	...	Tommy Dancer
Karen Sharpe	...	Betty Turner
Anita Ekberg	...	Flo Randall
Berry Kroeger	...	Willis Trent (as Berry Kroger)
Paul Fix	...	Herbie
James Seay	...	Paul De Camp
Mike Mazurki	...	Louie
Robert Keys	...	Earl Farraday
Nancy Duke	...	Trent's Girl Friend
Pedro Gonzalez Gonzalez	...	Pedro (as Gonzales Gonzales)
Vivianne Lloyd	...	Singer

Runtime:

73 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Certification:

Australia:PG | Norway:16 | USA:Approved (PCA #17525) | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15

Filming Locations:

West Hollywood, California, USA

Company:

Batjac Productions

Trivia:

There really was a Grover's Lock and Key on Santa Monica Blvd in Hollywood. Apparently, it was easier to use the existing storefront than create a phony one for the movie.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: At about 68 minutes, when Pedro opens a glass door to leave the bowling alley, the cameraman and a director are clearly reflected in the glass door.

Movie Connections:

References "You Bet Your Life" (1950)

Soundtrack:

Let The Chips Fall Where They May

atmospheric 50's "B" crime-noir

I had an old fuzzy copy-of-a-copy-of-a-copy of a TV broadcast of this 1956 crime-noir B programmer, but now that there's a new letter-boxed DVD out, I threw the old tape away and can finally enjoy this film for what it is: a solid "b" crime film with good performances, good pacing, and great Los Angeles location photography. The under-rated William Campbell plays an average guy working as a locksmith, who is approached by a gangster who wants to break into a safe deposit box. Campbell, like most people probably, initially tries to be polite, but turns down the offer. Gangsters don't like being turned down, so one can imagine where the plot goes. There's a woman involved, a shady lawyer, another gangster who has gone legit, Mike Mazurki as an ex-boxer turned enforcer, and the comedy of Pedro Gonzalez Gonzalez (a regular in Batjac Productions of this era). The main female role is played (well) by Karen Sharpe, who hails from here in San Antonio! Anita Ekberg is in a small role as the girlfriend of James Seay's character, the owner of the safe deposit box. Ekberg is not really given much to do. The film, an early directorial credit of Andrew V. McLaglen. legendary director of many classic westerns and action films, is very well-paced and has amazing location photography of 1950's Los Angeles. A few key scenes take place in a bowling alley, actually Art Linkletter's La Cienega Lanes, which is of great documentary value in itself. Wait until you see the climax inside the bowling alley! This probably deserves a "7" rating, but I'll give it one star more for the nice widescreen transfer on the DVD and the great location photography. This plays a lot like an Allied Artists low-budget 50's crime film, and for me that is a high compliment. Check it out...