The Crooked Way
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Movie Reviews of The Crooked Way
Movie Review: AW, IT'S BETTER THAN THAT!
Summary: 4 Stars
I liked this much more than the other reviewers. I put off watching it for a long time because of the amnesia angle. It's such a tired premise. (Like multiple personality disorder, the kind of amnesia you see in these films rarely happens in real life. These films make it seem like a common occurance.) But when I finally watched THE CROOKED WAY, I was enchanted. For me, the visual aspects of film are more important than any other elements, like plot or dialogue. That's why I love Noir. And this film, visually, is just as noir as it gets. There are moments of stunning beauty, and some images that are the very essence of Noir iconography. This is, of course, due to John Alton's genius. I also found the story very engaging. I see that the dvd is now out of print. I hope someone like KINO takes this opportunity for a restoration. (The soundtrack is pretty hissy.) If you are a Noir fan, do not miss this film.Movie Review: Patsy Turned Hero
Summary: 4 Stars
John Payne was perhaps the quintessential patsy turned hero character in this era of film noir. All the other supporting actors merely play off of his character role developing from one of stupefaction to that of determined resolve. I do think that the amnesia angle was a bit overplayed in this era.Movie Review: Great little Noir movie !!
Summary: 4 Stars
This great Film Noir movie is a hidden gem and I am glad I got it !
John Payne is the classic noir guy and wish he had made more !!
Movie Review: A Unique Character Arc
Summary: 3 Stars
In movie story parlance a character arc is a significant development that dramatically changes the life pattern that individual is pursuing.
In the case of the 1949 film noir vehicle "The Crooked Way" John Payne, a former musical star at Twentieth-Century Fox opposite their popular blondes Alice Faye and Betty Grable, plays a returning veteran from World War Two. This was a familiar story element used in many late forties films, but this film involves a unique twist.
In Payne's case he suffers from amnesia and returns to Los Angeles to find out who he really is. The character arc involves the fact that, the more the viewer learns, the easier it becomes to realize that Payne was not one of the community's solid citizens. He was, in fact, one of the city's most prominent hoodlums.
The character arc involves the fact that the post-traumatic shock Payne is a thoroughly different man. His efforts are accordingly twofold, 1) to establish that he is now a decent man, and 2) to learn about those dark secrets of his past life and seek to rectify them while building on his new post-war existence.
Ellen Drew sustains a profound shock when she learns that Payne is truly a changed man. She was his former wife who soured on him and became involved with his rival a take-no-prisoners mobster played by Sonny Tufts. Tufts bears a physical resemblance to David Brian, who played gangland bosses in many films of the forties and fifties.
Whereas Drew changes her opinion of Payne when she sees that he is a different person than the selfish, plotting mobster she earlier knew, Tufts has a one-track mind throughout. A ruthless sociopath, for Tufts all roads lead to one objective - the elimination of Payne.
While this is not one of the more imaginative film noir efforts of the period from the standpoint of story, there are some pluses in this film. The three leads of Payne, Drew and Tufts dominate and interact superbly, generating dramatic sparks. Another plus is the excellent, brooding black and white photography of John Alton, one of the leading cinematographers of the post-war noir period, who weaves a fascinating tapestry of the Los Angeles of that period.
Movie Review: Grade B noir
Summary: 3 Stars
"The Crooked Way" is a 1949 film noir using the all too familiar theme of an amnesiac attempting to put the puzzling pieces of his life back together. War hero Eddie Rice has been convalescing for 5 years in a San Francisco military hospital for wounds that have left a piece of shrapnel lodged deep within his brain. Rice played by John Payne, only knows that he'd enlisted in Los Angeles. He is convinced by his doctor to return there to hopefully discover his true identity.
Upon his arrival in L.A., Payne gets a lukewarm reception from police lieutenant Joe Williams played by Rhys Williams, owing to the fact that he is actually Eddie Riccardi a known gangster. His old boss Vince Alexander played by Sonny Tufts has solidified his power base and views Payne as a threat. Payne also meets up with the attractive Nina Martin played by the attractive Ellen Drew, working as a hostess in a gambling den fronted by Tufts. Shockingly Payne learns that Drew was once his wife.
Tufts tries to frame Payne for a murder he committed of policeman Williams, who was putiing the heat on his operation. Payne aided by the now sympathetic Drew must uncover evidence to prove his innocence as L.A.P.D. is hot on his trail.
"The Crooked Way" had all the elements of the classic film noir but suffered from some very pedestrian acting performances by the cast particularly by the emotionless Payne.