Raw Deal (1948)

Joe Sullivan has taken the rap for Rick who double-crosses him with a flawed escape plan and other means intended to get rid of him.

Director:

Anthony Mann

Writers:

Leopold Atlas, John C. Higgins

Stars:

Dennis O'Keefe, Claire Trevor, Marsha Hunt

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Dennis O'Keefe	...	Joe Sullivan
Claire Trevor	...	Pat Regan
Marsha Hunt	...	Ann Martin
John Ireland	...	Fantail
Raymond Burr	...	Rick Coyle
Curt Conway	...	Spider
Chili Williams	...	Marcy
Richard Fraser	...	Fields
Regis Toomey	...	Police Capt. Fields
Whit Bissell	...	Murderer
Cliff Clark	...	Gates

Storyline

Joe Sullivan is itching to get out of prison. He's taken the rap for Rick, who owes him $50,000. Rick sets up an escape for Joe, knowing that Joe will be caught escaping and be shot or locked away forever. But with the help of his love-struck girl Pat and his sympathetic legal caseworker Ann, Joe gets further than he's supposed to, and we are posed with two very important questions: Is Joe really the cold and heartless criminal he appears to be, or is there a heart of gold under that gritty exterior? And does Joe belong with the tough, street-wise Pat, or with the prim, moralizing Ann?

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Plot Keywords:

prison | police | set up | money | love | 

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Taglines:

Blasting the screen with "T-Men" fury!

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Film-Noir | Thriller

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

26 May 1948 (USA)

Also Known As:

Corkscrew Alley

Filming Locations:

San Quentin State Prison, San Quentin, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Edward Small Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

79 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Jane Randolph was wanted for the role of Pat Cameron. However, she turned it down, as she was upset at being uncredited in Anthony Mann's previous picture, T-Men. Claire Trevor was eventually cast.

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Goofs

Although Joe Sullivan escaped from the Washington State Penitentiary in Walla Walla, Washington, the police radio announcements at Ann Martin's residence mentioned several places near Cañon City, Colorado, over a thousand miles distant, where the Colorado state prison is, e.g. "going east on US 50 towards Pueblo," "Lincoln Park and cutoff to Salida," "state route to Florence covered, Cripple Creek Junction covered." Perhaps the plot's setting was rewritten.

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Quotes

Joe Sullivan: What do you know about anything? You probably had your bread buttered on both sides since the day you were born. Safe. Safe on first, second, third, and home.
Ann Martin: That's what you think? Just because I own a car and a tailored suit and my nails are clean, you think I've never had to fight? I got an education, sure. I suppose that means I was born with a silver spoon, doesn't it? My father was a schoolteacher. He died in the war of The Depression. Only he didn't get any medals. Or any bands. Or any ...

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Connections

Featured in A Personal Journey with Martin Scorsese Through American Movies (1995)

User Reviews

Good Film Noir

Joseph Emmett "Joe" Sullivan (Dennis O'Keefe) is in the State Prison for taken the blame for the gangster Rick Coyle (Raymond Burr) that owes him US$ 50,000.00. Joe is visited by the young Ann Martin (Marsha Hunt) that works at the law firm that is defending him and she tells that after three years, Joe will certainly be on probation. However his lover Pat Cameron (Claire Trevor) also visits him and tells that Rick has plotted an escape for him during the night. What they do not know is that the sadistic Rick wants to get rid off Joe and expects that Joe will be murdered or caught during the prison break.

Joe is well-succeeded in the escape and Pat drives the runaway car. However the car is shot in the tank by the police officers and they run out fuel. Joe brings Pat to Ann's house expecting to have a hideout for a couple of days, but Ann calls the police believing that she would help Joe. They escape in Ann's car and head to Crescent City, where Joe expects to meet Rick to receive his money and travel to South America with Pat. But Rick sends a hit-man to kill Joe while Pat feels that she is losing Joe to Ann that has fallen in love with him. Will Pat and Joe have the chance to travel together to South America?

"Raw Deal" is a film-noir with a triangle of love between an ambiguous criminal that wants to be a good man, his experienced lover and a naive young woman that also falls in love for him. Raymond Burr performs a scary gangster. The plot is full of action and has an unusual narration in off by Pat Cameron. The cinematography in black and white is very beautiful and the conclusion is dark. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "Entre Dois Fogos" ("Between Two Fires")