Criss Cross (1949)

Director:

Robert Siodmak

Writers:

Daniel Fuchs (writer)
Don Tracy (novel)

Release Date:

1949 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Film-Noir | Thriller

Tagline:

When you Double-Cross a Double-Crosser...IT'S A CRISS-CROSS!

Plot:

Steve Thompson, still obsessed with his fickle ex-wife, is drawn by her into the underworld...

Plot Keywords:

Armored Car | Double Cross | Ex Husband Ex Wife Relationship | Dead Woman | Abusive Husband

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Burt Lancaster	...	Steve Thompson
Yvonne De Carlo	...	Anna
Dan Duryea	...	Slim Dundee
Stephen McNally	...	Pete Ramirez
Esy Morales	...	Orchestra Leader
Tom Pedi	...	Vincent
Percy Helton	...	Frank
Alan Napier	...	Finchley
Griff Barnett	...	Pop
Meg Randall	...	Helen
Richard Long	...	Slade Thompson
Joan Miller	...	The Lush
Edna Holland	...	Mrs. Thompson (as Edna M. Holland)
John Doucette	...	Walt
Marc Krah	...	Mort

Runtime:

88 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

Australia:PG | Norway:16 | Spain:13 | France:U | West Germany:16 (nf) | Finland:K-16 | USA:Approved (PCA #13393) | Sweden:15

Filming Locations:

Angel's Flight Railway, Bunker Hill, Downtown, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Universal International Pictures (UI)

Trivia:

Vito Scotti's first film appearance.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Steve and Pop leave the armored truck to carry the payroll bags into the company Steve has 3 bags and Pop has 2. Then after the explosion, Steve has 2 and Pop has 3.

Quotes:

Steve Thompson: She's all right, she's just young.
Mrs. Thompson: Huh! Some ways, she knows more than Einstein.

Movie Connections:

Version of Underneath (1995)

Not As Good As I Was Led To Believe

As a film noir fan who read a lot of positive reviews of this film before seeing it, I wound up really disappointed with this after two views. For some reason, the first look wasn't bad but on a further viewing, it really dragged. The reason was simple: it took took long for the "heist" to happen.It turned out to be more of a talk-fest between Burt Lancaster and Yvonne DeCarlo before anything happened.

I have nothing against the main actors and their performances. Lancaster, as always, was interesting and DeCarlo is also intriguing, especially for someone like me who grew up knowing her only as "Lily Munster." She had a convincing 1940s film noir look: pretty, sultry and not only looked the part but acted the part well, too. I wish she had done a few more noirs that were available on disc or tape.

When you add Dan Duryea, Stephen McNally and others, this should have been better and the middle just went on too long. The beginning and ending are, by far, the best parts of this movie.