Review of Crime Wave (1953) by Max M — 12 Jun 2009

Ex-con Steve Lacey (Gene Nelson) is caught between his old and recently escaped cell-mates Doc Penny and Ben Hastings (Ted de Corsia and Charles Buchinsky aka Bronson) who try and strongarm him into a bank job, and the cops, led by tough-as-nails Dt. Lt. Sims (an always great Sterling Hayden), who are hot on the trail of the escapees.

This has got to be one of the best film noir pictures I have ever seen and unfortunately is little known. Every thing about this film is right on the money; from the great story and dialogue by Crane Wilbur (working from the story Criminal's Mark by John and Ward Hawkins); to the tough and unflinching violence that explodes and ends before the audience can catch it's breath; to the lean and efficient directorial style of brilliant B filmmaker Andre de Toth (House of Wax, The Stranger Wore a Gun, Day of the Outlaw) who eschewed the studio backlot for actual location footage on the streets, diners, and seedy back alleys of 1950's Los Angeles (and managed to shoot the picture in a scant fourteen days); to the outstanding performances by the entire cast, from the featured players right down to the rough, rugged and worn faces (the best this side of a Sergio Leone film) of the background talent (look for celebrated character actors Dub Taylor and Hank Worden in bit parts).

And that is what makes this picture really special. The honesty and reality of these characters. These actors don't just give performances - they fully inhabit their roles thus giving what could have been a cheap, throw-away story a true sense of anxious and terse reality.