Crime of Passion (1957)

Kathy leaves the newspaper business to marry homicide detective Bill but is frustrated by his lack of ambition and the banality of life in the suburbs. Her drive to advance Bill's career soon takes her down a dangerous path.

Director:

Gerd Oswald

Writer:

Jo Eisinger (original story and screenplay)

Stars:

Barbara Stanwyck, Sterling Hayden, Raymond Burr

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Barbara Stanwyck	...	Kathy Ferguson Doyle
Sterling Hayden	...	Police Lt. Bill Doyle
Raymond Burr	...	Police Inspector Anthony (Tony) Pope
Fay Wray	...	Alice Pope
Virginia Grey	...	Sara Alidos
Royal Dano	...	Police Capt. Charlie Alidos
Robert Griffin	...	Police Sgt. James
Dennis Cross	...	Police Sgt. Jules
Jay Adler	...	Mr. Nalence
Stuart Whitman	...	Laboratory Technician
Malcolm Atterbury	...	Police Officer Spitz
Robert Quarry	...	Sam, Reporter
Gail Bonney	...	Mrs. London
Joe Conley	...	Delivery Boy
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Patricia Merlin	...	Taxi Driver

Storyline

Kathy is a smart and tough 1950's advice columnist at a San Francisco newspaper, with her name plastered on billboards all over the city. One day, Bill Doyle, a Los Angeles detective, walks into her office - it is instant attraction. After marrying Bill, Kathy gives up her career and becomes a homemaker. However, she is not your typical 1950's homemaker. After hosting several cocktail parties in their San Fernando Valley home, she realizes that Bill is content with his position, and shows no ambition in furthering himself. Kathy will not sit idly by while everyone around her is "moving up in the world". She personally takes upon herself the task of pushing Bill's career along, even if it comes down to murder.

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Plot Keywords:

career | detective | ambition | columnist | investigation | 

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Genres:

Crime | Film-Noir | Drama

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

9 January 1957 (USA)

Also Known As:

Da Ambição ao Crime

Filming Locations:

RKO-Pathé Studios - 9336 Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Robert Goldstein Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

84 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

When Kathy runs her car into a pole she steps in front of the car to inspect the damage. The right front fender that bore the brunt of the impact shows it is still firmly attached. However any trace of the headlight including the hole where it would mount is missing.

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Quotes

Kathy Ferguson Doyle: I hope all your socks have holes in them and I can sit for hours and hours darning them.

User Reviews

Cool little film

This seldom seen film is one of the best Noirs from the 1950s. It never looks down on the audience which is refreshingly different than most films made during that decade. What makes this so good is the believability of the dialogue and the settings. Nothing too glam or too dreary. It's just right.

The actors are all good, with Barbara Stanwyck, Sterling Hayden and Raymond Burr all in top form. The Stanwyck - Hayden pairing is fascinating and it works beautifully. One of the more interesting couples I've seen on screen. Hayden is a great overlooked actor who has amazing screen presence. Always believable in all his roles. Stanwyck is equally good, with this being one of her most fascinating roles. Many have said that Stanwyck was too old for this role but I disagree. Her age/look is what makes her role interesting. Had her role been played by an average 1950s screen beauty, it wouldn't have worked. Stanwyck's dilemma is greatly accentuated by the "possible" age difference. It's brilliant casting. But what's really interesting in this film is Raymond Burr. He's surprisingly good here. So believable in his slimy contemptible character that one feels sorry that Burr's career ended up playing the same character over and over again on TV for the rest of his life.

The story is grounded and never becomes ludicrous. Some of the police stuff is actually fascinating to watch. But the threesome between Stanwyck - Hayden - Burr is what makes the movie so cool. Watching Stanwyck and Burr pining for each other is great, on so many levels! Arf.

Crime of Passion is a film I enjoy watching over and over again. Check it out.