Behind the High Wall [1956]

behind-the-high-wall

Welcome! The lobby of the Deranged L.A. Crimes theater is open! Grab a bucket of popcorn, some Milk Duds and a Coke and find a seat. Tonight’s feature is BEHIND THE HIGH WALL staring Tom Tully, Sylvia Sidney, Betty Lynn, John Larch, Barney Phillips and John Gavin.

Enjoy the movie!

IMDB says:

  • A group of convicts break out of prison, killing a guard, kidnapping the warden and forcing a reluctant inmate to accompany them. However, when a car accident kills everyone except the warden and the inmate hostage, the warden steals $100,000 of the gang’s money, then when police arrive he accuses the inmate of the guard’s murder in order to cover up his own crime.

    [Synopsis written by frankfob2@yahoo.com]

 

Film Noir Friday: The Killer is Loose [1956]

killer is loose

Welcome! The lobby of the Deranged L.A. Crimes theater is open. Grab a bucket of popcorn, some Milk Duds and a Coke and find a seat.

Tonight’s feature is,  THE KILLER IS LOOSE, starring Joseph Cotten, Rhonda Fleming, and Alan Hale. Bonus — great shots of L.A.

Enjoy the movie!

 TCM says:

Upon encountering Leon Poole in his current position as bank loan manager, Otto Flanders recognizes him as the corporal from his war unit whom he used to call “Foggy” because of Poole’s bumbling mannerisms. Poole, who is not pleased to see his old sergeant, is distracted by a robbery taking place at the back of the bank. When the thief pulls a gun and runs out the front door, Poole tries to stop him and is knocked out. While Flanders is questioned by detective Sam Wagner and his partner, Chris Gillespie at the police station, he now praises Poole’s courage. Later, Sam, Chris and Sgt. “Denny” Denning monitor a wiretap, on which they hear the robber calling his accomplice. They trace the call to Poole’s apartment and attempt to enter. Poole has barricaded the door, however, and shoots at them, prompting Sam to break down the door and enter shooting. When Mrs. Poole steps out, Sam, and who had been told she was not in the apartment, accidentally kills her, and Poole cradles his beloved wife in his arms.

Things go psycho from there as Poole, aka Froggy, plots his revenge.

Film Noir Friday: Timetable [1956]

Time-Table-1956

Welcome! The lobby of the Deranged L.A. Crimes theater is open. Grab a bucket of popcorn, some Milk Duds and a Coke and find a seat.

Tonight’s feature is TIMETABLE starring Mark Stevens, Kikng Calder, Felicia Farr and Marianne Stewart.

TCM says:

On a westbound train, the conductor asks Dr. Paul Brucker, who is using the pseudonym Sloan, to assist a sick passenger. After his examination, Brucker tells the conductor the man may have polio, and recommends an unscheduled stop at the nearest town, Winston, Arizona. Meanwhile, the conductor grants Brucker access to the baggage car so he can get his medical kit. Unknown to the conductor, Brucker withdraws a gun from his bag and injects the security officer and baggage handlers with a substance that puts them to sleep.

 

Uh, oh.  I smell trouble.  Enjoy the film!

Film Noir Friday: Timetable [1956]

 timetable_poster

 

Welcome!  The lobby of the Deranged L.A. Crimes theater is open. Grab a bucket of popcorn, some Milk Duds and a Coke and find a seat. Tonight’s feature is TIMETABLE (1956).  Mark Stevens both starred in and directed the movie.  The film also starred King Calder, Felicia Farr and Marianne Stewart.

Wikipedia says:

A physician, whose license has been revoked, poses as a practicing doctor aboard a train passing through Arizona. His presence there is part of a caper involving a fictitious patient, on whose behalf he gains access to his checked baggage, including his physician’s “black bag,” in the baggage car, whereupon he blows and then robs the safe. Then he arranges for both the fictitious patient, which he claims is infected with a communicable disease which poses an immediate and extremely serious public health risk, and himself to leave the train, presumably departing for the closest hospital, which is also far from any scheduled train stop, the two thereby escaping with $500,000 in an ambulance. The railroad officials do not discover the robbery until the train reaches Phoenix, many hours after their escape has been effected.

Critical Response:

Film critic Dennis Schwartz liked the film and wrote, “A gripping film noir about an ace insurance investigator, Charlie Norman (Mark Stevens–he also directs), who successfully plans a complicated train robbery in Arizona and ends up teamed with railroad detective Joe Armstrong (King Calder) as co-leaders of the investigation.  It’s a taut thriller with a fine script and acting … “

http://youtu.be/npsaWb6ZAc0

Film Noir Friday: Please Murder Me [1956]

please_murder_me_ver2

Welcome!  The lobby of the Deranged L.A. Crimes theater is open. Grab a bucket of popcorn, some Milk Duds and a Coke and find a seat.  Tonight’s feature is PLEASE MURDER ME starring Raymond Burr and Angela Lansbury.

Turner Classic Movies says:

After purchasing a handgun at a pawnshop one evening, attorney Craig Carlson returns to his office and begins dictating a message to District Attorney Ray Willis announcing that in less than an hour, Craig will be dead.