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:

Proving that there is no honor among thieves!!

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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

Ann's car is a 1946 Dodge Custom convertible coupe. New, it cost $1,649 ($20,420 in 2016). In excellent condition, it can now fetch over $50,000 at auction (as of 2016). Practically unchanged from the 1946 through 1949 model years, only 9,500 were made.

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Goofs

After fixing the car, Oscar tells Joe he should get to Crescent City before Midnight. However when Joe arrives at Grimshaw's in Crescent City, it is broad daylight and the scene on the beach with Ann following the fight at Grimshaw's is in daylight.

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Quotes

Joe Sullivan: [being visited in prison by Ann] Next time you come up, don't wear that perfume.
Ann Martin: Why not?
Joe Sullivan: It doesn't help a guy's good behavior.

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Connections

Featured in Siskel & Ebert: Space Jam/The Mirror Has Two Faces/The English Patient/Breaking the Waves (1996)

User Reviews

More great noir from Anthony Mann...

Anthony Mann stylishly directs this jailbreak, film noir thriller. Dennis O'Keefe is the escapee who is taking the rap for his crime boss, Raymond Burr. Burr is responsible for springing him, but only with the hope that he gets killed in the attempt and is thus silenced. O'Keefe's dame is assuredly played by Claire Trevor, who helps him through the road blocks and dragnets, but is severely jealous once another woman enters the picture. John Alton's cinematography perfectly captures the noir-like atmosphere of San Francisco as does Trevor's voice-over narration accompanied by the haunting sound of a theremin playing.