Here’s a few Noir/Crime flicks that I’ve listed. All worth a watch. Dated throw backs. But they all have something that makes them watchable. Cool characters, they look great, great lines, memorable performances. Character actor city. Some cornball dialogue and some forgettable stuff but that’s part of the charm. Lots of bad guys and gals. Black and white cinematography, lots of shadows and cigarette smoking. A few punches to the head and plenty of lip locks. A genre in films that I really dig. Crime and more crime.
Turn down the lights, get some snacks and turn the clock back a few decades to catch some of these entertaining films. “So ya think you’re a tough guy huh?”
(Borrowed from CB’s intro to Noir/Crime 1 because I’m sooooo lazy)
The Threat
“Prison Break! Red Kluger’s out!” Yeah and he’s a bad ass and he is looking for revenge on the people who put him away. the news has put everyone in turmoil. I really can’t add much to that. A ‘B’ picture gem with my buddy Charles McGraw slapping, punching and just being down right mean to everyone. Everything you’d expect from McGraw. If you don’t know Charles watch this and get a good taste of a Noir/Crime heavy. Get sweaty in the desert with Red and his gang. Hard boiled crime flick.
“Carol, shut up and make some sandwiches”.
http://www.tcm.com/mediaroom/video/1450784/Threat-The-Movie-Clip-She-Spill-Anything-.html
Kansas City Confidential
Mr Big sets up a bank heist that works. Except they set up a patsy to take the fall who doesn’t take it lying down. He tracks the gang to Mexico where the bad guys are waiting for their payoff. Above average well shot B crime/heist flick with lots to like. Great characters and performances especially by the trifecta of Jack Elam, Lee Van Cleef and Neville Brand as the heavies. Worth a watch with just one of those guys but three. Come on, CB hall of famers. Lots of wise guys, knuckleheads, smoking and Jack Elam setting a record for getting slapped.
Armored Car Robbery
This time Charles McGraw is a cop chasing down bad guys that killed his partner in a heist. Lots of that dialogue I like along with solid camera work and a cast that gives just the right performances. A “B” movie that swings above it’s head. Heist, caper, robbery, stripper and all those things that add up to the bad guys getting theirs at the end. Do not mess with Charlie Mac he’ll track you down.
Roadblock
McGraw is a straight hard nosed by the book insurance investigator until he meets a woman who wants the high life. He falls hard for her and starts playing a different tune. Makes a decision to try the other side of the law. Bad choice Charles.
“If you’re lying you get a bullet right between your eyes.”
Out Of The Past
An ex private dick is brought back into the shady world he thought he left behind. Great cinematography, writing,story and performances will keep you engaged. Robert Mitchum is perfect and Jane Greer gives him all he can handle. A step up in the Noir genre. A really good film. Pay attention lots going on. If you’re an ex smoker this film might start the craving.
“You’re no good and either am I”
That’s it folks. Now get lost!
Out Of The Past- the only one of these I have seen- Bob Mitchem is King- of Noir!
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It’s probably the best of the bunch but I love the others also. I’m a huge McGraw guy. Tough guy city. Mitchum was soooo cool. Didnt we have the cool talk before?
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Yes we did and Mitchem sure was. Will be on the look out for the other films. Some I have heard of but don’t think I’ve seen.
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Pretty under the radar stuff. My Gal really likes the genre to. You dont have to rack your brain and are usually short snappers. Good for a double bill. Soon as you hear McGraw you wont forget him.
I thought we had the Mitchum talk. No over acting or performing on his part. He just was. And you bought it. I loved him in ‘The Friends Of Eddie Coyle’
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He made ” The Night Of The Hunter” about 20 minutes away from where I live… of course that was way before I was around.
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I wanted to like that film more than I did. One thing for sure, Mitchum was great in it.
It was black and white but the country looked beautiful. Still that way down there?
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A little more grown up- but still a pretty rural area.
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Beautiful.
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Hello CB! Haven’t heard from you in a long time…pass by every once in a while…this is a great post and great suggestions my friend and I thank you as I’ve been looking for more films to watch. Take good care, hope you’re doing good! All the best and greetings from Spain 🇪🇸
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Francisco! How you doing. Good to hear from you!
If you like this kind of stuff you’ll dig it.
I watched a film from your neck of the woods ‘The Fury Of a Patient Man’. I really liked that one.
Tale care and stay in touch.
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You too CB! Stay safe!
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Have you seen The Unsuspected? I watched it for the first time a few nights ago. It’s pretty good. Came out in 1947. Claude Rains is the lead, and he’s good in the role of a devious, creepy guy.
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I think we disscussed this once before. I will search it out for sure. A more “devious” kind of noir. Perfect. Time to get with it. I love Claude.
Thanks fella. The Gal will be happy. She loves this stuff.
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I dig noir but boy, you got me on most of these. I told you my friend Bill loves noir and his favorite is ‘Chinatown.’ (Much later neo-noir.) He’s even just read a book about the making of it. I was just thinking recently that I should dig into the catalog of AMC or whoever is showing old flicks. If I tried to watch these with the wife, she would just roll her eyes. She can’t get past the corniness. That said, it was she who just last week watched ‘The Innocents’ which you may know is an early 60’s horror film. Maybe it was scary at the time but it is now melodramatic as hell. “Made it ma! Top of the world!”
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‘Chinatown’ is one of my top films period. These films had a few more budget restraints (Like no budget. Maybe Out Of The Past).
My Gal loves this stuff so i’m lucky but yeah I’m sure a lot of folks find them old and dated (Because they are). But so much other good stuff in them.
Also these films for the most part were throw ins to the movie theaters with the “A” pics they were pushing. Like those musical swim numbers you like with Nelson Eddy and Ethel Merman.
Funny u should mention that film. I just read Henry Jame’s short story that it was based on ‘Turn Of The screw’. The film did a good job.
Here we go again. Just read a Cagney bio as well. His own words. He sure wasnt crazy about the whole film making business. Good read. His politics even grabbed CB’s interest for a second. He kept it short. He was a nut job in ‘White Heat’
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Don’t forget Esther Williams swimming movies. Man, you can have all your “masterpieces” like “On the Waterfront” or “Raging Bull.” I’ll take classics like ice-skating films with Sonja Henie or works of art like “Cannonball Run” any day.
I don’t know how long it’s been since you saw “Innocents,” but boy the melodrama really undercuts it. Ripe for a remake.
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It’s been a long time since I seen it. Yeah it would be dated (sometimes I can get by it sometimes I cant. Westerns are hard for me and I love a good duster) but there was something creepy about the whole atmosphere and Deborah losing her marbles.
Esther’s swim movies. I’ll take those on recommendation. I’ll take a lot of that old studio stuff on recommendation.
These films are a big part of movie making history and a part I like. I think Kirk Douglass got his start in ‘Out Of The Past’. He’s good in it.
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The good doctor is fucking with you on the Esther Williams and “Cannonball Run” stuff. CB’s bullshit meter needs calibrating.
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I guess you got “Doc”ed. You didnt bullshit me. I was onto you. Blues guy and aqua films are a longshot for a match. You never though.
Here’s a question. Will all this lockdown, is that drive in near you up and running. It would be perfect.
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The doc got punked by the master. I saw some good B-movies at the drive-in. Check out the original 1977 “The Hills Have Eyes” sometime. Wes Craven flick.
I read that there used to be about 4,000 drive-in theaters in this country, now there are a little over 300.
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I’m in line for a film like that. I like a good horror creeped out movie.
You missed my question. I remember you mentioning a drive – in near you. Is it up and running so all those movie going people can catch a flick and catch the drive – in vibe? With all this no socializing it would be perfect time for a come back.
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I’ve been reading that this is happening. Alas, not here. There are, in fact, two within shouting distance, both closed.
I would probably revert to form anyway and try to get the old lady to head to the back seat.
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That’s enough. Stop it. Behave yourself Homer.
Too bad. I would think it would be a chance for those folks to make a few bucks and give people an outlet. You might be able to make a few extra bucks car hopping and picking up some back seat side shows.
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I think it’s a state mandate as to how many people can congregate
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Back at ya Doc. Nothing to do with “Noir” but everything to do with you. I guess blues fit noir. The more I hear the song it does fit.
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Nice tune. Pull thus one outta your hat?
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Heard your bad news up there. Welcome to our world
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I love “Alabama Town” by Peter Karp. The energy on the whole album is just amazing.
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Thanks Fox. Noted. Yeah he caught my ear.
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They blew him up real good
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Just like the Second City guys – Candy, Levy, Martin, etc. Loved ’em all. Another great thing about The Country That Has A Lot Of Great Stuff But Is Too Fucking Cold.
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You know your stuff. You’re an honorary Canuck anyways. Shorts and Ts today Doc.
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As you know, I’m not a film expert, but these old pictures just had something, namely good story telling. They didn’t overly rely on special effects as I feel many movies nowadays do.
In the title picture, is that Robert Mitchum as Phil Marlowe? That was such a great role for him. I watched a bunch of his films during my teenage years back in Germany.
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I think the pic of Mitchum is from the film below ‘Out Of The Past’. The film is high up there on peoples list of this genre. He was made for them.
The special effect never grabbed me. I guess as a kid they did for a while. The whole CGI thing is lost on me unless it helps tell the story. Sensory overload. None of that in these Christian. They were low budget city and had a certain style and formula.
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I think the black and white also adds to these pictures. While colors are beautiful, they can be a distraction. Plus, black and white creates a certain atmosphere that’s perfect for these story-driven pictures.
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If your interested in that stuff Christian, take a quick look at the documentary ‘Val Newton -The Man In the Shadows’. Read the intro. See if it grabs your interest. Real good piece of film history. I think you’d appreciate it. His black and white films were the masters of that. Real good stuff. Heavy influence on Scorsese I think.
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Hey CB – I watch a lot of this stuff. It seems to be very popular on the broadcast movie channels right now. I wonder what percentage of it was made between 1946 and 1950? That seems to be almost the rule. I think of Richard Widmark and Vistor Mature in “Kiss of Death” and of course, “The Big Sleep” which is fascinating to me.
The plot is so convoluted and murky that I finally went and read the book this summer. Not only did I discover how good and how far ahead of its time Chandler’s writing was, but I also learned that a lot of the plot murkiness in the movie was because they had to dance around things like pornography and homosexuality plot lines that were key to the original story
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Good stuff Tommy. I think your 46-50 thing would fit most of them. ‘Night and The City’ is my favorite Widmark. Shot in London and it looks just as good as NY.
Bang on with ‘The Big Sleep’ stuff. Same as ‘Maltese Falcon’. Hard to follow, but what great films. I eat or have ate up all Chandler and his disciples. Dont get me going on this stuff.
A real good one from this era is ‘Crossfire’ with Mitchum and your buddy Robert Ryan. Ryan’s performance will do nothing to warm you up to him. He is one scary guy. No one could have played it better.
Other than ‘Out Of The Past’ the films here are low rent but so much good stuff Tommy.
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I’ve seen Out Of The Past, Crossfire, and Night and the City, but the last two were far enough back for me that all I can say is I remember them being good ones. Crossfire really had a lot of nominations. Panic in the Streets (sadly, way too timely) was another good Widmark noir flick.
Best noir film of all? For me, “The Third Man”. I guess I didn’t think of it earlier, because it’s just unique, and not really part of a category
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About time for a revisit to ‘Panic In The Streets’
I liked 3rd Man. I also liked Reeds ‘Odd Man Out’
Little different from the ones I’ve featured but something about the black and white cinematography and under belly connects them. Bigger budgets separates them.
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Out of the Past is the only one I’ve seen on this list and I loved it. That ending!
I’m going to keep an eye on TCM for the rest!
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Out Of The Past seems to be the one most people are familar with.
The others should pop up occasionally. If you’re familiar with Spartacus Charles McGraw runs the gladiator school. Cant mistake the voice
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Do you remember one about trucking and unions? that was a good ‘un. Something like roads of terror, or similar. A good tough movie.
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Even though I would like to think I’m an expert on some things, I’m not. The only one i can think of is ‘They Drive By Night’ with Bogie and George Raft. ‘Hell Drivers’ from your side wasn’t bad.
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Nice blog ✨
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No one has ever said that to CB. Thanks Saania Sparkle. I usually stick with music/film but I do expand my small mind on occasion so I’ll get over and check out your words.
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Pingback: Noir/Crime Flicks 2 — Cincinnati Babyhead | Crime/Mystery Film & Writing Festival
“I done the Polack and Jimmy the Whale.” That mean anything to ya?
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Yes that does. very familiar. Fill me in.
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Peter Boyle says that in “The Friends of Eddie Coyle.” Pulled it off your “Doc” list from last year. It’s a movie I’ve always wanted to see. Glad I did. Excellent, taut flick (but a little dated and I thought that soundtrack was cheesy.) Very gripping in parts. You didn’t know who (if anybody) was gonna get whacked at any moment and (at least for me) what happens to Eddie is a shocker. Good use of Boston (mostly what they call the South Shore but also the big, windy Government Center plaza.)
What’s all that with Bobby Orr, number 4? No fucking helmets! Anyway, good flick. You said how good Mitchum is but so is Boyle. He’s a deceptively cold-blooded guy. Good all the way around.
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What a great flick. Now I want to watch it again. I figured you’d know those locations. Boyle is always solid. I like the reality of it especially with Boyle (Have him coming up with DeNiro in another street film. I think you know the one) and Mitchum. The whole way Eddie was taken out. Yeah, “coldblooded and real. I loved the whole Gardens scene. Eddie having a good time and us knowing he was going to get it. Good comment Doc.
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I “knew” Eddie was gonna get it but I didn’t believe it would happen. How could a low-level player like Boyle get the upper hand? But Boyle was the savvy one. Pinned it all on Eddie then whacked him. I thought for sure the gun had misfired in the car. It was all so nonchalant.
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You already did the Boyle/DeNiro movie recently unless there’s another one I don’t know.
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I’m losing it Doc Taxi Driver 2 maybe? Punchy today. The whole “low level” thing is what appealed to me. I love this style and story telling. “Nonchalant” is the right term. I’ve seen it done like this in other films and it works for me.
Yeah Orr was quite a bit before Gretzky. Obviously big argument on who’s the best (sort of like the “best” lists that show up on these music blogs). Howe, Orr, Lemieux, Gretzky, Crosby, Ovetchkin. I’ll take them all.
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You know those guys better than me. I went to a fight once and a hockey game broke out.
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Cool that you finally got to it.
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Well, you went to all the trouble of compiling a list.
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I meant the film.
Yeah the Bruins had some tough teams. When Orr was there they has some guys that could scrap.
U catching any other good films?
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Yeah I know. I’m just saying you went to all the trouble of putting together a list I might as well pick something off of it once in a while.
Watched a movie called ‘Snowpiercer.’ 2012 apocalyptic sci-fi film where the remaining world population travels around the world endlessly on a train. Not bad but not really my thing. Same director that did ‘Parasite’ which I thought was a much better film.
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I told you I’m punchy today. I finally got it about the list. I’m going to go back and have a look at it.
I’ve been watching some good ones Doc, I seen ‘Snowpiercer’ (Sucker for the train thing), same as you on that one. Havent pulled the trigger on the other one. No idea it was same director. Now you and Earl have both liked it. I guess I better take the plunge.
You might be interested in CB’s next take since you’re a history guy.
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I’d be curious on your take on ‘Parasite.’ I am definitely a history guy. Just finished 2nd volume of three-part Churchill series. Taking a break before next one. Big commitment.
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Very cool on the Churchill thing. I have a few volumes kicking around here. “Commitment” is the word.
I think the take will get Docs attention. Can you say Winston’s old nemesis?
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Springtime for Hitler?
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It’s that time of year isnt it. Close but no cigar Winston.
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John Lennon’s middle name was Winston, after Churchill. (John was born during the Blitz of Britain.) He sometimes played anonymously on albums as Dr. Winston ‘O Boogie.
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You are a walking history and Beatles guy. You’re my partner on trivia.
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I’m the fifth Beatle. CB is Enery the Eighth.
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Guys like Boyle bring instant credibility to those kind of characters. You believe them. Love the nick names.
Booby Orr. Didnt Eddie say “The best hockey player in the world” Legit writing right there.
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Was that before or after Gretzky?
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