What a film! I watched it on YouTube while searching for a noir film to watch for the night. It really is a dark and somewhat nihilistic movie, where everyone is on the make, including the cops. The pickpocket, looking for his next score, the fallen female lead, looking to do one last job before she's let go by an old boyfriend, an old stool pigeon, looking for the cash to buy herself a nice tombstone and plot, for when she passes on, and the cops, looking for a reason to throw the book at a three time loser, to send him away for life.
First off, Richard Widmark is a revelation. He is snide, condescending, sneaky, manipulative, thieving, and smart. When Capt. Tiger of the police department pulls him for questioning on a pickpocket beef, he really lets go with some great lines. Sleazy, and full of himself, he insults the cop, because he knows he's got them beat. And they know it too.
Jean Peters as Candy is the fallen angel, a girl who fell on the wrong side of the tracks, and is in hock to an old boyfriend, to become a courier of stolen intelligence.
Thelma Ritter, in an Oscar nominated role, is the old stool pigeon, eking out a living selling information to the cops, along with $1 neckties, to support her dream of having a beautiful headstone and plot to be buried in when her time comes.
Three characters out of many that come together in this sizzling noir. Highly Recommended!
First off, Richard Widmark is a revelation. He is snide, condescending, sneaky, manipulative, thieving, and smart. When Capt. Tiger of the police department pulls him for questioning on a pickpocket beef, he really lets go with some great lines. Sleazy, and full of himself, he insults the cop, because he knows he's got them beat. And they know it too.
Jean Peters as Candy is the fallen angel, a girl who fell on the wrong side of the tracks, and is in hock to an old boyfriend, to become a courier of stolen intelligence.
Thelma Ritter, in an Oscar nominated role, is the old stool pigeon, eking out a living selling information to the cops, along with $1 neckties, to support her dream of having a beautiful headstone and plot to be buried in when her time comes.
Three characters out of many that come together in this sizzling noir. Highly Recommended!