IMDb RATING
6.3/10
1.1K
YOUR RATING
The former employee of a trucking company, currently in prison for embezzlement, plans his eventual revenge against his former boss.The former employee of a trucking company, currently in prison for embezzlement, plans his eventual revenge against his former boss.The former employee of a trucking company, currently in prison for embezzlement, plans his eventual revenge against his former boss.
IMDb RATING
6.3/10
1.1K
YOUR RATING
- Don 'Red' Barry(story "This Guy Gideon")
- George Callahan(screenplay)
- Charles Grayson(additional dialogue)
- Stars
- Don 'Red' Barry(story "This Guy Gideon")
- George Callahan(screenplay)
- Charles Grayson(additional dialogue)
- Stars
Harry Morgan
- Rocky
- (as Henry Morgan)
William 'Bill' Phillips
- Ryan
- (as Wm. S. Phillips)
Leonard Bremen
- Bookie
- (uncredited)
Claire Carleton
- Waitress
- (uncredited)
Bill Cartledge
- Elevator Operator
- (uncredited)
Robert Espinoza
- Miguel
- (uncredited)
- Don 'Red' Barry(story "This Guy Gideon")
- George Callahan(screenplay)
- Charles Grayson(additional dialogue)
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaBased on the short story "This Guy Gideon" by Don 'Red' Barry. Producer/director Roy Del Ruth bought the rights to that story, but hated the uncommercial title. So he also bought the rights to Weldon Reeder's short story "Red Light" simply because he liked the title better.
- GoofsThe check Johnny writes is dated 14 August 1946, but he's already been seen driving a 1948 Packard convertible.
- Quotes
Warni Hazard: My old man always said, "liquor doesn't drown your troubles - just teaches 'em to swim."
- Crazy creditsDuring the closing scene a neon sign reads "24 HOUR SERVICE". When the film ends another neon sign lights up with "THE END" below it.
Review
Featured review
George Raft is not like a box of chocolates...
... because you always know what you're going to get. However, that doesn't mean that I don't really enjoy his movies. Nobody, I mean nobody does revenge like Raft. Here he plays businessman Johnny Torno, proud older brother of young Jess Torno, a priest recently returned from being a chaplain in WWII. Four years earlier Torno's bookkeeper Nick Cherney (Raymond Burr) was sent to prison for embezzling from Johnny's company - he was embarrassingly guilty and it was really a lot of money. Instead of blaming the man in the mirror, Nick blames Johnny for his fate and crafts a particularly cruel revenge. If he kills Johnny, Johnny's troubles are over. However, if he kills what is precious to him - brother Jess - he can plunge Johnny into a living hell of grief. He sends a hit man (Harry Morgan) out to do the killing. Johnny finds Jess just before he dies. Of course Johnny wants to know who did this so he can kill them in revenge - he tells Jess so - and Jess tells him the answer is written in a Bible.
Now at first Johnny thinks Jess means his own personal Bible, but after searching through it he finds nothing. He then realizes that Jess probably meant the Gideon Bible that is found in every hotel room. This starts Johnny on a search for the missing Bible and all of the guests in the hotel room since Jess' death who might have taken it. Nick, now out of prison, along with the hit man, are right on Johnny's heels hoping their plans are not discovered.
It is very odd to see later TV good guys Harry Morgan and Raymond Burr playing such sinister characters but the performances ring true. So does Virginia Mayo as a girl Johnny befriends along the way as the voice of reason and even redemption. Raft wrestles here not only with bad guys and a mystery but with God Himself - he treats the Almighty either like a traffic cop that he thinks can be bribed or an unreliable employee that he doesn't fire because he enjoys blaming him for his troubles, depending on his mood.
A good noir and good stuff from Raft - highly recommended.
Now at first Johnny thinks Jess means his own personal Bible, but after searching through it he finds nothing. He then realizes that Jess probably meant the Gideon Bible that is found in every hotel room. This starts Johnny on a search for the missing Bible and all of the guests in the hotel room since Jess' death who might have taken it. Nick, now out of prison, along with the hit man, are right on Johnny's heels hoping their plans are not discovered.
It is very odd to see later TV good guys Harry Morgan and Raymond Burr playing such sinister characters but the performances ring true. So does Virginia Mayo as a girl Johnny befriends along the way as the voice of reason and even redemption. Raft wrestles here not only with bad guys and a mystery but with God Himself - he treats the Almighty either like a traffic cop that he thinks can be bribed or an unreliable employee that he doesn't fire because he enjoys blaming him for his troubles, depending on his mood.
A good noir and good stuff from Raft - highly recommended.
helpful•325
- AlsExGal
- May 30, 2011
Details
- 1 hour 23 minutes
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