Main Cast: Burt Lancaster, Lizabeth Scott, Kirk Douglas, Wendell Corey, Kristine Miller
Release Year: 1948
Country: US
Run Time: 98 minutes
Plot
On the run from the cops, bootleggers Frankie Madison (Burt Lancaster) and Noll Turner (Kirk Douglas), find themselves racing up to an enormous roadblock. The two split up, agreeing that if one was caught, the other would operate their nightclub and save half the profits for his partner. The unlucky Madison is caught and when released from prison 14 years later, he returns to claim his money. Turner, never intending to split the money, tries to distract Madison by offering him the affections of his girlfriend Kay (Lizabeth Scott). Madison's brother Dave (Wendell Corey), Turner's accountant, help's Turner by doctoring the books to hide the lucrative profits of the club. Madison is enraged that he has been swindled by his friend and his brother, and Dave finally helps Madison get his revenge and Kay's love. Byron Haskin, in his directorial debut, brings a post-war idealism into the ordinarily cynical noir sensibility. Wendell Corey is particularly fine as Madison's cowardly brother, who manages to redeem himself, and Lizabeth Scott is touching as the vulnerable, romantic Kay. ~ Linda Rasmussen, All Movie Guide
Review
I Walk Alone is not top-notch film noir, but there are enough positives to the film to more than offset its negatives. The biggest problem is, of course, the screenplay. While it has some interesting turns (such as one gangster cheating the other by simple bookkeeping fraud), it sometimes strains credulity (would Madison really believe Turner would do right by him?). The plotting is busy, but not as inventive as necessary and, worse, the dialogue -- an immensely important ingredient in a successful noir stew -- disappoints. Fortunately, Walk has two dependably muscular performances from its male stars, with Kirk Douglas' icy sophistication playing delightfully off of Burt Lancaster's earthy integrity. Even better is Lizabeth Scott, adding a believable note of warmth and sensuality, andWendell Corey, whose cowardly brother walks away with several scenes. Byron Haskin's direction is occasionally at odds with the material; he's trying to add heft and dimension to it, and if he only half succeeds, at least he's trying something different. Better is Leo Tovar's cinematography, with stark, high-contrast lighting effects and a variety of dramatic angles used to good effect. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide
Franz Bachelin - Art Director, Hans Dreier - Art Director, Edith Head - Costume Designer, Richard McWhorter - First Assistant Director, Byron Haskin - Director, Arthur P. Schmidt - Editor, Victor Young - Composer (Music Score), Wally Westmore - Makeup, Leo Tover - Cinematographer, Hal B. Wallis - Producer, Sam Comer - Set Designer, Patrick Delany - Set Designer, Harry Lindgren - Sound/Sound Designer, Walter Oberst - Sound/Sound Designer, Robert Smith - Screenwriter, John Bright - Screenwriter, Charles Schnee - Screenwriter, Theodore Reeves - Play Author
I Walk Alone is a 1948film noir starring Burt Lancaster, Lizabeth Scott, and Kirk Douglas. The film was the directorial debut of Byron Haskin. This was also the first of several films that Lancaster and Douglas made together over the decades, including Gunfight at the OK Corral (1957), The Devil's Disciple (1959), Seven Days in May (1964), and Tough Guys (1986), all of which fixed the notion of the pair as something of a team in the public's imagination; Douglas was always billed under Lancaster in these movies but, with the exception of I Walk Alone, their roles were usually more or less the same size.
Frankie Madison (Burt Lancaster) and 'Dink' Turner (Kirk Douglas) are two rum-running partners during Prohibition. Madison is caught and jailed for 14 years. When he is finally set free, he seeks out Turner for his share of their profits. Turner has used the money to buy a swanky nightclub and has no intention of giving Madison anything. He tries to pacify his former partner by making his girlfriend (Lizabeth Scott) available, but this strategy backfires when they fall in love.
It is notable that the slant of sympathy is very strong toward the mug who did the "stretch," as though he were some kind of martyr. Nice thing! Producer Hal Wallis should read the Code.[1]
The film today is regarded as a classic, usually due to the film's cast.[2]
Trivia
A portion of I Walk Alone was used in 1982's Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid in which footage of Kirk Douglas is edited as if his character was speaking to Steve Martin's character of Rigby Reardon.
