Down Three Dark Streets (1954)

User Rating:

6.9/10   

Director:

Arnold Laven

Writers:

Gordon Gordon (screenplay) &
Mildred Gordon (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

2 September 1954 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama

Tagline:

Down This Street Raced Dead-End Violence... Down This One Stretched Excitement Taut As Silk!

Plot:

When FBI Agent Zack Stewart is killed, Agent John Ripley takes over the three cases he was working on...

Plot Keywords:

FBI Agent | FBI | Narcissism | Bumbling Detective | Film In Film

Cast

Broderick Crawford	...	FBI Agent John 'Rip' Ripley
Ruth Roman	...	Kate Martell
Martha Hyer	...	Connie Anderson
Marisa Pavan	...	Julie Angelino
Max Showalter	...	Dave Millson (as Casey Adams)
Kenneth Tobey	...	FBI Agent Zack Stewart
Gene Reynolds	...	Vince Angelino
William Johnstone	...	FBI Chief Frank Pace
Harlan Warde	...	FBI Agent Greg Barker
Jay Adler	...	Uncle Max Charles Martell
Claude Akins	...	Matty Pavelich
Suzanne Alexander	...	Brenda Ralles
Myra Marsh	...	Mrs. Downes
Joe Bassett	...	Joe Walpo aka Joe Allen

Runtime:

85 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.75 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15

Filming Locations:

Hollywood Sign, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Edward Small Productions

Nicely Done; Would Like To See A DVD Of It

I enjoyed this early 1950s crime/drama and appreciate the nice job TCM did in restoring the print. The transfer looked outstanding; sharp with excellent contrast. The movie features some fine photography and lighting.

This was one of those semi-documentaries popular among crime stories in the late '40s/early '50s. It usually plugged one of the U.S. law enforcement agencies. Here, it was the FBI and we followed a couple of agents as they tried to tie in several cases in the Los Angeles area. Sometimes these movies were labeled "crime dramas" and sometimes "film noirs." This movie contains a lot of both elements.

Along the way, we see a lot of familiar faces, especially if you grew up watching a lot of television in the '50s and '60s. You may not know all the names, but you'll know the faces.

Names you probably know, however, are Broderick Crawford, Ruth Roman and Martha Hyer. There are three of the half-dozen or so actor who all play a significant part of this story.

Crawford is an FBI agent and lower-key one than you might expect. He's not the gruff lawman of "Highway Patrol" or the loudmouth politician of "All The King's Men." Here, he's gentle with people all the while being an effective FBI guy.

Ruth Roman, as "Kate Martel." plays one of several key female roles, as either crime victim or gangster-girlfriend. Ruth plays a role similar to one Lee Remick played in about 10 years later in a film called "Experiment In Terror." Marilyn Monroe-wannabe Martha Hyer is a hoot as a sexy blonde playing a thug's girlfriend, or should I say "moll." She has some great lines, calling the cops "you dirty crumbs" and the like. Her character is pure film noir.

Marisa Pavan is interesting as the blind "Julie Angelino" and so is a young Claude Akins as a boxer-criminal. Jay Adler, Kenneth Tobey and others all have those familiar TV faces.

Movie buffs will get a kick out of the climactic scene, which takes place at the foot of the "Hollywood" sign on top of a hill. That nostalgia, along with the very cool automobiles of the period, make this a good trip down "memory lane."

Unfortunately, this is one of those classic movies that never made it to VHS or DVD. Hopefully, someone will put it in a DVD classics box-set some day. It's a good film and deserves a DVD of its own.