Armored Car Robbery (1950)
You know something? This is a perfect movie. I'm not saying it's the most original or a classic masterpiece--it's a crime film, fairly straight up--but it's acted and made with unusual focus and great post-War style. It has enough turns to keep you alert, enough dark dark night scenes to thrill any noir lover, and a steady presence by the main cast to give it intense credibility.
Starring in a role he's repeated elsewhere is Charles McGraw as the weary, determined, no-nonsense cop. Around him are cops with a similar kind of determination. The thugs are quite believably thuggish, too, including the terrific leading bad guy played by William Talman.
Yes, no big names here. And that's part of the appeal. No magic aura, no expectations or star power to get in the way, just some gritty crime back and forth, fast and beautifully made.
And the movie is ahead of its time, too, and influential without much acknowledgement. Near the end is a scene, at an airport, with a suitcase full of money bursting open and blowing away. Sound familiar? Yes, it's a mild version of the astonishing end to Kubrick's masterful "The Killing," made in 1956 But that cuts both ways, because in the heist at the center for the action the criminals use tear gas to hold up an armored truck, much like they did in the famous "Criss-Cross" in 1948.
Such is the movies, I think, and it makes you realize (and appreciate) how part of the success of any movie is simply how well done it is. And this one, coming from someone who has seen way too many of this kind of movie (as if you can see too many), is really great. See it!
You know something? This is a perfect movie. I'm not saying it's the most original or a classic masterpiece--it's a crime film, fairly straight up--but it's acted and made with unusual focus and great post-War style. It has enough turns to keep you alert, enough dark dark night scenes to thrill any noir lover, and a steady presence by the main cast to give it intense credibility.
Starring in a role he's repeated elsewhere is Charles McGraw as the weary, determined, no-nonsense cop. Around him are cops with a similar kind of determination. The thugs are quite believably thuggish, too, including the terrific leading bad guy played by William Talman.
Yes, no big names here. And that's part of the appeal. No magic aura, no expectations or star power to get in the way, just some gritty crime back and forth, fast and beautifully made.
And the movie is ahead of its time, too, and influential without much acknowledgement. Near the end is a scene, at an airport, with a suitcase full of money bursting open and blowing away. Sound familiar? Yes, it's a mild version of the astonishing end to Kubrick's masterful "The Killing," made in 1956 But that cuts both ways, because in the heist at the center for the action the criminals use tear gas to hold up an armored truck, much like they did in the famous "Criss-Cross" in 1948.
Such is the movies, I think, and it makes you realize (and appreciate) how part of the success of any movie is simply how well done it is. And this one, coming from someone who has seen way too many of this kind of movie (as if you can see too many), is really great. See it!