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  • secragt11 December 2012
    Typically violent and existential parolee noir featuring perennial patsy Dane Clark just out from the pokey after taking the fall for bad guy William Talman. Clark finds plenty more trouble on his very first day of release, quickly descending into murder and armed robbery with only a brief romantic interlude with true blue May Wynn, who ought to know better. Noir vet Barton MacClane gets in a couple good lines as the cop who put Clark away the first time and looks likely to do so again.

    Like many hard luck characters preceding him in noirdom, Clark appears forever snake-bit and no matter how he squirms or where he shoots, the flypaper just gets stickier. Clark's character has never gotten a particularly fair shake though he asks for some of what he gets. In short, he's not the kind you'd send a Christmas card to. His fate is never really in doubt,though you may decide to stick around to see whether the love of a good (naive) woman can prevent ultimate bloodshed (what do you think?) Overall a sincere if inevitable effort with a few thrills and not the worst b-movie 2nd feature in that context.
  • Dane Clark has spent a year in prison on a frame. He gets out and gets his job driving a truck for William Talman back... and finds out that Talman framed him. It's part of an armored car robbery Talman has been planning, and he wants Clark to run it. Then someone turns up dead, and lieutenant Barton MacLane thinks Clark did it.

    There are lots of loose ends to be tied up in this Republic crime drama. Why did Talman frame Clark? Can Clark get back with old friend girlfriend May Wynn, or is her relationship with medical intern permanent? Will Clark be able to complete his concerto? Talman gives one of his fine performances as a psychopath that makes those of us who first knew him as the ADA who lost every case to Perry Mason very confused. Maybe, he thought after he had done psychopath things, he figured he could get Raymond Burr to defend him.

    In any case, it's a decent crime drama, although the romantic soundtrack doesn't really match.
  • MikeF-622 January 2020
    Directed by Franklin Adreon (1956). Republic Pictures. Cinematography by Bud Thackery. Johnny Morrison (Dane Clark) is just out of San Quentin after serving a year. He goes to confront Mitch who he believes double-crossed him. They fight, then Mitch falls to his death. Fleeing to his former employer Hackett (William Tallman, Perry Mason 1950s TV series), Hackett cheerfully confesses that it was he who framed Johnny to test his mettle. Hackett has a heist planned that will set them both up for life. With a suspicious police detective (Barton MacLane) looking into Mitch's death, Johnny has little choice but to go along. Naturally, things go wrong and there are betrayals. We root for Johnny, that he and his love (May Wynn) will finally succeed - but will film noir convention let that happen? The movie is virtually unknown but well worth your time.
  • Warning: Spoilers
    Dane Clark (Johnny Morrison), William Talman (Hackett), May Wynn (Carol Wayne), Robert Horton (Dr Mike Benning), Barton MacLane (Coster), Fred Wayne (Egan), Bob Jordan (Thorne), Richard Benedict (Mitch), Richard Reeves (Rutberg), Harry Lewis (Cole), Larry J. Blake (Ray Perkins), Darlene Fields (Terrycloth), John Mitchum.

    Director: FRANKLIN ADREON. Screenplay: Richard Landau, Robert C. Dennis. Story: Don Martin. Photography: Bud Thackery. Film editor: Tony Martinelli. Art director: Walter Keller. Set decorators: John McCarthy jr, George Milo. Special effects: Howard Lydecker, Theodore Lydecker. Costumes: Adele Palmer. Make-up: Bob Marks. Assistant director: Roy Wade. Sound recording: Dick Tyler. Associate producer: Edward J. White. Executive producer: Herbert J. Yates.

    SYNOPSIS: Johnny, a trucker, is framed by his boss for a smuggling offense across the California-Mexican border. Released after serving a year in San Quentin, Johnny murders another trucker whom he wrongly believes sent him to jail. Copyright 1956 by Republic Pictures Corp. U.S. release: 19 October 1956. No recorded New York opening. U.K. release: 10 September 1956. Australian release through 20th Century-Fox: 3 April 1958. 6,297 feet. 70 minutes.

    COMMENT: Despite its familiar plot (man is framed and sent to prison for a crime he didn't commit), this crime melo has an interesting trucking background which provides some exciting action. The script sustains interest (thanks to a couple of unexpected twists), acting is capable and the direction efficient.
  • Warning: Spoilers
    THE MAN IS ARMED is a tough and gritty, albeit low budget, slice of film noir with Dane Clark on top form as a volatile ex-con who finds himself manipulated by a gang of robbers. Even the protagonist in this one is an imposing figure (despite Clark's short statute) given to outbursts of sudden, shocking violence. Plenty of twists to fill the running time, and the whole thing is shot through with violence and suspense.
  • Dane Clark stars in "The Man is Armed," from 1956, also starring William Talman, Hamilton Burger on Perry Mason, May Wynn, and Wagon Train's Robert Horton.

    Clark is Johnny, a loose canon who has just been released from prison for a crime he didn't commit. The first thing he does is seek out the man he believes is responsible for his imprisonment and throws him off a building.

    Johnny then goes to his old employer Hackett (Talman). It happens that he's in love with Hackett's secretary (Wynn) who is presently dating a doctor (Horton). She's happy to see Johnny. She has a choice between a criminal and a handsome doctor and every time someone asks her how she feels she says, "I don't know." Good answer.

    It turns out that Hackett was the one who framed him and sent him to prison. He wants Johnny to pull of a huge heist for him and feels he can trust him. Why, I don't know. And why he framed him to go to prison, he doesn't explain either.

    Nevertheless, Hackett has everything in place and puts Johnny in charge of planning the heist and giving orders to the other people involved. Johnny actually has partially written some sort of concerto - I bring this up because he plays it while Hackett is talking to him. Actually he plays it every time he's near a piano. And plays it. And plays it. The same melody.

    It's pretty evident how this will go, since Johnny has a screw loose. Barton Maclane plays the police officer trying to catch the criminals.
  • Warning: Spoilers
    When convicted felon Dane Clark is released from prison, he goes back into the trucking business where he work before and finds himself involved against his will in plans for an armed robbery, which results and everything being pinned on him. It doesn't help matters that she was involved in the accidental death of a man he was fighting with on the very day he got out of prison, and that is used against him which results in a violent Showdown with the police. May Wynn is his long-suffering girlfriend, with William Talman, Robert Horton and Barton MacLane in good support.

    This B crime drama from Republic is better than average, and even with its cliches is quite good. Clark is as good as always, the perfect anti-hero, and his character gains audience sympathy from the start. His character, an accomplished pianist, has his own theme, a very grand piece of music that is heard throughout the film and often guides the mood whether romantic or intense. The ending is filled with tension, and the production design helps provide a mood that shows Clark in a situation beyond his control where there is only one way out, and it's a dead end street.
  • Much of "The Man is Armed" seems to make little sense...like no one ever bothered to edit or even read the script. It's a shame...but it's certainly NOT a very good example of film noir.

    When the film begins, Johnny (Dane Clark) has just gotten out of prison for a crime he didn't commit. He is bent on revenge and soon helps one of his old pals to accidentally fall off a skyscraper...which isn't particularly nice. Now here's where it gets goofy. Hackett (William Tallman) soon informs Johnny that HE was the one who framed him and it's all part of some complex plan...though never did he really explained why he had Johnny sent to prison! And, soon Johnny agrees to work for Hackett to pull a big heist...which makes no sense since Hackett framed him and certainly cannot be trusted. Apparently, Johnny is one of the dumber criminals in film history!!

    The absurdity of the plot and nonsensical reaction by Johnny make this a bad film. What's worse, Dane Clark has absolutely no emotional range...so his inexplicable actions are even more inexplicable. A strange misfire of a movie...and one that just felt rushed and incomplete.
  • Warning: Spoilers
    Truck driver Dane Clark has just gotten out of prison after serving a one year bit. He is hitching his back way back to LA. Fred Wayne, who works for the same trucking outfit Clark had, picks him up.

    When they hit LA, Wayne says he needs to make a stop before hitting the warehouse. Clark says no problem and has Wayne drop him just outside of downtown. They arrange to meet in one hour.

    Clark hotfoots it over to a nearby apartment building. He enters and heads upstairs. There he finds Richard Benedict. Clark figures that Benedict had set him up for the Police. The boys in blue had collared Clark with stolen goods in his truck. Clark had been filling in for Benedict on the delivery. Clark has been waiting a year to settle the score.

    A quick round of fisticuffs ends with Benedict going for a 6 floor fall off the roof. Clark calmly leaves the apartment and meets his ride Wayne. The two then drive to the trucking depot.

    Running the office phones at the depot is the built like a brick ****house, May Wynn. Wynn and Clark had been stepping out before Clark's trip to the jail house. While swapping spit with Wynn, they are interrupted by depot boss, William Talman. He would like a word with Clark in his office.

    Talman gives Clark back his job and offers him a chance at a cool 100 grand. Talman wants to make up for being the one who really set the cops on Clark. He had wanted to test Clark's "character". A less than amused Clark wants to give Talman a bit of what he gave Benedict in error. But 100 grand is 100 grand. Talman hands Clark a couple of c notes and arranges a meeting for the next day. All will be explained then.

    The pair are now interrupted by Police Detective, Barton MacLane. He is here to ask some questions about one of depot's drivers. The driver is of course, the late Richard Benedict. They need to know if anyone had it in for Benedict. MacLane, just happens to be the cop who had pinched Clark on the stolen goods beef. He asks Clark where he was at the time. "Just getting to town with one of the depot's drivers" he answers.

    Clark wines and dines Wynn that night and tells her he wants to marry her. Wynn is a tad reluctant to answer. She has been enjoying the company of up and coming Doctor, Robert Horton. She tells Clark she needs some time.

    Next day Clark meets up with Talman. Talman has the perfect caper lined up. He has all the inside dope on an armored car warehouse. He knows all about the guards, cash amounts, times etc.

    He wants Clark to run the operation with three other men he has hired. Again, 100 large for his end talks big, and Clark agrees. Clark and the men, Richard Reeves, Bob Jordan and Henry Lewis have one week to get ready. They spend the time going over blueprints and getting the plan down pat.

    The night of the robbery they silence the guard, break open the payroll safe and scoop up the half million inside. Then into the getaway car.

    However, a second guard shows and shots are exchanged with the guard getting plugged for his troubles. The boys then speed off to a second car. Clark takes the cash and heads off in the second car while Reeves, Jordan and Lewis go the other direction.

    The Police however are quickly off the mark tonight and have already put roadblocks up. Clark decides to ditch the cash rather than risk a search at a roadblock. He then contacts Talman by phone with the info. Clark says he will retrieve the cash later.

    While all this is going on, Maclane has been giving truck driver Fred Wayne a spot of 3rd degree. Wayne breaks and admits he had dropped Clark off near where Benedict had been killed. MacLane puts out an all points for Clark on suspicion of murder.

    The next day Clark and Talman meet to retrieve the cash. When Clark hands over the loot, slime-ball Talman, pulls a rod and shots Clark in the chest. He then laughs and drives off to stash the cash at the family farm.

    Clark however is not quite as dead as Talman thought. He manages to get to Wynn's apartment. Wynn is busy with her Doctor, Robert Horton. Clark applies some gun butt to Horton's head and drags Wynn off. He knows where Talman intends to hide the money. He wants Wynn to drive him to the farm. They are soon on the road with Wynn behind the wheel.

    Horton regains his senses and calls the Police. MacLane and the boys in blue quickly show. After a talk with Horton, Maclane radios the make, model and license number of Wynn's car to all units. They are not to stop the car but follow it. Wynn's car is soon spotted by a motorcycle cop who calls it in and follows at a distance.

    Wynn and Clark have now reached the Talman farm. Clark catches Talman in the act of digging a hole in which to bury the cash. Clark fills the hole with Talman after he puts several slugs into him. He grabs the bag of cash and starts to the car.

    MacLane, along with and a dozen or so heavily armed bulls have also made it to the farm. They have Clark surrounded. Clark drags the loot and Wynn into the barn. A thoroughly frightened Wynn tries to talk Clark into surrendering.

    Clark throws his piece aside and staggers outside the barn where he drops dead. The blood loss from the wound Talman gave him had caught up with him. Another perfect plan goes amiss. (B/W)
  • That's the second time I watch a crime film with William Talman in a role of a criminal mastermind planning an armored truck robbery. Remember him in Richard Fleischer's ARMORED CAR ROBBERY, where he was excellent, a feature made for RKO pictures, and produced several years earlier. In this Republic Pictures flick, Dane Clark is also very convincing as an ex con framed by the same Talman.; a most underrated actor with a face looking like Joseph Cotten, the perfect face for a bad guy. He was also excellent in John H Auer's THE CITY THAT NEVER SLEEPS, also for Republic Pictures. Actually, here it is not exactly the question of an armored truck heist, but a security complex, a warehouse facility where big money is brought to and from by the armored trucks, a kind of Brink's vault garage. That's the best movie from usually lousy director Franklyn Adreon, he seems to be here far better, showing more ambition, especially in character depiction, than in his other movies.