Kick-Back Friday: March 2010 Archives
Born to Kill (1947): There's something about a strapping, murderous sociopath that's simply irresistible. Must be the "strapping" part.
In this Robert Wise joint, San Francisco socialite Helen Brent (played by Claire Trevor, the undisputed Queen of Noir) appreciates more than physical attributes in the low-rent Sam Wild* (played by big, bad Lawrence Tierney). This homme fatale, who is to become (gasp!) Helen's brother-in-law, has got one helluva thrilling, rudderless soul.
Other than smoke like a chimney, what's a horny, morally conflicted gal to do?
Featuring exceptional supporting performances by Walter Slezak (an unctuous PI), Elisha Cook, Jr (Sam's officious sidekick), and Esther Howard (a beer-loving landlady). The DVD offers expert commentary from the ever-amusing and informative Eddie Muller and a few audio clips from the director himself.
N.B. While Ben Affleck may have a passing resemblance to Lawrence Tierney, at least as far as the movie poster is concerned, there is a world of difference between the two when it comes to screen presence.
* Wild. Get it? Get it?
On the basis of his success with The Manchurian Candidate (1962), director John Frankenheimer was able to assemble a similar behind-the scenes crew for another B&W political thriller, Seven Days in May (1964). This time, however, Rod Serling (not George Axelrod) penned the highly effective screenplay.
The movie, based on a popular novel of the same name, is the story of an attempted military coup in the United States, spearheaded by the head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (Burt Lancaster). The planned coup is in response to a nuclear disarmament treaty signed by an unpopular President (Fredric March). Kirk Douglas plays Lancaster's right-hand military man, who alerts the Administration to his boss's overthrow plot.
The soul-searching dialog, as noted by Frankenheimer in the DVD commentary, is pure Serling:
General Scott (Lancaster): You're a night crawler, Colonel. A peddler. You sell information. Are you sufficiently up on your Bible to know who Judas was?
Colonel Casey (Douglas): I suggest you read that letter, sir. It's from the President.
General Scott: I asked you a question.
Colonel Casey (hesitantly): Are you ordering me to answer, sir?
General Scott (angrily): I am!
Colonel Casey (calmy, stoically): Yes, I know who Judas was. He was a man I worked for and admired...until he disgraced the four stars on his uniform.
(1948): Underappreciated noir from director Anthony Mann,* with moody voiceover narration from Claire Trevor, the Queen of Noir. A northern California setting provides the fog.
The story: Homme fatale Joe (Dennis O'Keefe) takes the prison rap for a crime boss, Rick (Raymond Burr), who owes Joe 50 Gs. Rick then sets up a prison escape for Joe, while relying on the odds that he'll get caught. But Joe escapes the police dragnet with the aid of his lovesick BFF (Trevor) and the reluctant cover of a pretty legal aid.
Despite the caliber of the film, the transfer to DVD (Classic Media) provides the bare minimum. Not even a subtitle option to catch every last drop of juicy screenplay—let alone any deserving commentary.
* Of noir and western fame.
