99 River Street

Plot

Ernie Driscoll (John Payne) is an ex-fighter who came within seconds of winning the world championship. He's now forced to eke out a living driving a cab. A basically decent guy, he has lots of people who care about him, including Linda James (Evelyn Keyes), a slightly ditsy actress friend -- but Ernie also has a short fuse, especially where his wife Pauline (Peggie Castle) is concerned. His rage boils over when he spots her kissing another man, but her unfaithfulness turns out to be the least of his worries. The man she's seeing, Vic Rawlins (Brad Dexter), is a career criminal with both the police and his former partners after him, and he sees Ernie as the perfect fall-guy. The law and Rawlins' criminal associates are soon closing in on Ernie, while he tries desperately -- with Linda's help -- to buy the time he needs to unravel this nightmare. ~ Bruce Eder, Rovi

Review

99 River Street is one of director Phil Karlson's brutal, sweaty excursions into film noir, and it has as many detractors as it has admirers. Certainly, there's a lot to applaud in River, starting with the economical way in which Karlson tells this complicated story. Karlson, as usual, is in love with close-ups, and there's a reason for it: they force the audience to concentrate on the character at hand, to experience his experience in a direct and no-nonsense manner. But cinematographer Franz Planer isn't content to pack everything into the close-ups; he provides some stunning, evocative shots and angles that compliment and enhance the action and the storytelling. Planer and Karlson are especially good with the climactic sequence, which is expertly handled. And the cast, especially John Payne, is in top form. And yet all of this talent and expertise is in pursuit of what is, at base, a rather ordinary story -- and one that, despite Karlson's skill, is still more than a little convoluted. In addition, Karlson's world view may come across as too cynical and/or simplistic for some. Not for every taste, 99 River Street still packs an undeniable wallop. ~ Craig Butler, Rovi

Cast

• John Payne - Ernie Driscoll
• Evelyn Keyes - Linda James
• Brad Dexter - Victor Rawlins
• Frank Faylen - Stan Hogan
• Peggie Castle - Pauline Driscoll

Jay Adler - Christopher; Jack Lambert - Mickey; Eddy Waller - Pop Dudkee; Glenn Langan - Lloyd Morgan; John Day - Bud; Ian Wolfe - Walde Daggett; Peter Leeds - Nat Finley; William Tannen - Director; Gene Reynolds - Chuck

Credit

F. Paul Sylos - Art Director, Frank Sylos - Art Director, Joe King - Costume Designer, Phil Karlson - Director, Buddy Small - Editor, Art Lange - Composer (Music Score), Emil Newman - Composer (Music Score), Franz Planer - Cinematographer, Edward Small - Producer, Alfred E. Kegerris - Set Designer, David Koehler - Special Effects, Lambert Day - Sound/Sound Designer, George Zuckerman - Screen Story, Robert Smith - Screenwriter

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