RAW DEAL – 1948
Director Anthony Mann and cinematographer John are both firing on all cylinders in this hard hitting film-noir.
The top flight cast includes Dennis O'Keefe, Claire Trevor, John Ireland, Marsha Hunt, Regis Toomey and Raymond Burr.
Raymond Burr, in one of his best villain bits, is a crime boss who arranges for former employee, Dennis O'Keefe to break out of prison. O'Keefe took the rap for a big time robbery and kept his mouth shut about Burr's involvement. O'Keefe wants to collect his end of the heist, 50,000 in long green. Burr has sent Miss Trevor to fill in O'Keefe on the escape. Trevor has the hots for O'Keefe and wants him for her man.
The real reason for the prison break is that Burr figures it has a 1000 to 1 shot of success. Burr sees O'Keefe as a loose end that needs to be eliminated. Besides, why share the robbery take.
O'Keefe however beats the odds and makes good his getaway. O'Keefe and Trevor are soon on the road looking for a place to lay low. O'Keefe picks the apartment of a social worker he knows, Marsha Hunt. O'Keefe happens to like Miss Hunt, which annoys Trevor no end. O'Keefe really does not see that Trevor is hot for him. The Police though are soon on the trail and O'Keefe grabs Hunt to bring along with him and Trevor.
Meanwhile, Burr is not the least amused that O'Keefe made good his escape. When O'Keefe calls to arrange a place to collect up his 50 large, Burr sends hit-man Ireland to deal with him. The attempt fails and O'Keefe realizes that Burr has no intention of paying up. O'Keefe now decides to get even and heads to Burr's for some pay back.
This one is a real keeper with excellent work from the entire cast and crew. I would swear that cinematographer John Alton could light a film with the reflection of a lit cigar off a quarter. The man is a genius. Director Mann keeps everything hopping during the entire 79 minute runtime.
Raymond Burr, who made a film career out of playing villains, is particularly chilling here. The bit where he throws a flaming drink into a woman's face is quite something.
Of note, as well, is the use of Claire Trevor to do the voice over narration. I'm not really a fan of the narration gimmick, but it works very well here.
Well worth seeing if you are a fan of film-noir.
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