By David in TN
Wednesday, April 3, 2019 at 6:04:00 P.M. EDT
First, in his exit for Border Incident last week, Eddie Muller implied anti-Communists would not like the film because the bad guys (Howard da Silva’s character) are “businessmen.” Absolute nonsense.
TCM’s Film Noir of the Week Saturday Night-Sunday Morning at Midnight ET (and 10 a.m. ET Sunday Morning), is Phil Karlson's 99 River Street (1953), with John Payne, Evelyn Keyes, Brad Dexter, Frank Faylen, Peggie Castle, Jay Adler and Jack Lambert.
Film Noir Guide: “Payne is a washed-up heavyweight contender who’s forced to drive a cab after being sidelined by an eye injury. He's married to a fickle ex-showgirl (Castle) who, disillusioned with their marriage, constantly berates him about his inability to shower her with luxuries. Payne discovers that she has been cheating on him with a diamond thief and murderer (Dexter) and that they plan to run off to South America. Adler is the pet store owner and diamond fence who refuses to pay Dexter because he brought a dame in on the job. So Dexter kills Castle and plants her body in her husband’s cab. Before long the cops are searching for Payne, who’s being helped by Keyes, a struggling actress, and Faylen, his dispatcher and former trainer. Lambert plays Adler’s vicious henchman. Payne is excellent as the pug who likes using his fists to settle scores, and Castle is perfect as his femme fatale wife. Be prepared for a knock-out climax.”
Last week Eddie previewed 99 River Street by calling it “Pure pulp for Noir people.” This time, he was right. I have the Blu-Ray of 99 River Street, with Eddie doing a commentary track. He’s very good with straight commentary.
TCM's Film Noir of the Week Saturday Night-Sunday Morning at 12:30 am ET (and 10 am ET Sunday Morning) is Nobody Lives Forever (1946) directed by Jean Negulesco, written by W.R. Burnett.
ReplyDeleteNobody Lives Forever stars John Garfield, Geraldine Fitzgerald, Walter Brennan, Faye Emerson, George Tobias, and George Coulouris.
Film Noir Guide: "Recently discharged from the Army because of wounds sustained in combat, con man Garfield returns to New York expecting to find his torch singer girlfriend (Emerson) waiting for him and his money earning interest. He discovers instead that Emerson has found herself a new man and has given him Garfield's dough to start a business. After 'persuading' the man to return his fifty Gs plus interest, Garfield kisses Emerson goodbye, slaps her hard across the face and heads for California with his henchman (Tobias) for rest and recuperation. Once there he hooks up with his old mentor (Brennan) who's selling peeks at the moon through a telescope for ten cents and lifting wallets from drunks. Coulouris, Garfield's archrival in the confidence game, convinces him to finance his latest sting--ripping off a rich widow (Fitzgerald). But when Garfield meets the gorgeous mark, he begins having second thoughts. Garfield is terrific, as usual, and Emerson is first-rate as the blonde femme fatale."
Let's see if Eddie moans again that Garfield was a Victim of the Witch Hunts. Will he recognize Walter Brennan as one of the most right-wing actors of all time, as well as an all-time great character actor?