Film Noir Flashback/Kiss of Death
March 8, 2025Film Noir Flashback/Crack-Up
April 2, 2025
I post reviews (Film Noir Flashback) of movies from Hollywood’s Golden Age of Noir, the 1940s and 1950s. I write as an amateur film noir enthusiast, but not an authority as such.
Maybe, like me, you are looking to enjoy films that are different, or of a different era. Films you may not have seen, ones encompassing cynical detectives, seductive femme fatales, flawed sidekicks all tossed together into intricate plots. Not forgetting the snappy dialogue too.
Backstory: Film Noir has its roots in German expressionist cinematography and American crime fiction. During the 1930s Hollywood became a perfect storm of film artists fleeing the threat of Nazi Germany, emigrating to America, and specifically to the Film studios of Hollywood. This included great directors such as Fritz Lang, Jaques Tourneur, Michael Curtiz and Robert Siodmak.
This new dramatic visual style combined with American hardboiled crime stories (noir fiction), emerged during the Great Depression and produced many classic noirs. Some of these writers include: Raymond Chandler, James M. Cain, Dashiell Hammett, Patricia Highsmith, Jim Thompson and Mickey Spillane.
I hope to showcase some of these memorable noir movies here for you. And advance apologies for a mixture of British and US English occasionally and potential spoilers, although I will always try to avoid revealing the full ending. I have applied the link below, to the Amazon.com DVD of today’s featured film. (As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases).
Inspired by hardboiled detective stories and film noir, I have written the Sterling Private Investigator Series, set in present-day London. I have also posted a link to my books at the bottom of the page. For more of my Film Noir Flashback blogs: https://johnkempauthor.com/blog-film-noir-reviews/
Today’s Film Noir Flashback is:
99 River Street
USA DVD: https://amzn.to/3XaY8bh Blu-ray DVD: https://amzn.to/3D41eH8
UK link DVD: https://amzn.to/4b9SprY Blu-ray DVD: https://amzn.to/3QuzMFs
“You were a showgirl! And I coulda’ been the champion.”
Film Studio: United Artists B&W/1953
Director: Phil Karson
Original Music: Arthur Lange, Emil Newman
Cinematography: Franz Planer
Film Editor: Buddy Small
Story: George Zuckerman
Screenplay: Robert Smith
Main Actors: John Payne, Evelyn Keyes
Produced by: Edward Small
Run time: 82 minutes
Preview
Courtesy of Wikipedia:
99 River Street is a 1953 film noir directed by Phil Karlson and starring John Payne and Evelyn Keyes. It also features Brad Dexter, Frank Faylen and Peggie Castle. The screenplay is by Robert Smith based on a short story by George Zuckerman. The film was produced by Edward Small, with cinematography by Franz Planer.
The rights to George Zuckerman’s short story “Crosstown” were originally purchased by producer Albert Zugsmith, who sold them to Edward Small. In keeping with the source story, the film was originally known as Crosstown, but the title was changed two months before the film’s release. Linda Darnell was Small’s first choice to play the female lead, a role that was awarded to Evelyn Keyes. For more about the career of Evelyn Keyes: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evelyn_Keyes
Synopsis
Nice guy and everyman, Ernie Driscoll (played by John Payne), is a New York taxi driver and a former boxer. 99 River Street begins with an historic re-run of his championship title bout. The camera pans out and we see Ernie watching the fight on television from his own sitting room. After the big fight, he was forced to hang up his gloves due to an injury to his right eye. That “nearly-moment” still haunts him, however.
Driscoll’s wife, Pauline (played by Peggie Castle), is frustrated by his downturn in fortunes (and earnings). Conflict is never far away… Ernie sees a new watch on her wrist, “Something new,” he queries. “Costume jewellery. Rhinestones around a ten-dollar movement,” she says dismissively. He suggests the stones look almost real. She counters: “They might be if I hadn’t married a punk.” Ouch! He’s not the only one who can throw a punch.
And I’m not fully sure, but I’m guessing the watch is expensive and was gifted to her by her lover.
Ernie drives his wife in his taxi to her workplace, The Broadway Florists. He checks in with the taxi company but first, goes to a local coffee shop. Here, he meets Stan Hogan (Frank Faylen), his former trainer. Stan offers Ernie some marital advice (to paraphrase, buy her some candy and have a couple of kids). He then meets the engaging Linda James (played by Evelyn Keyes), who is up for the leading role in a Broadway Theatre play: They call it murder. The struggling actress excitedly tells Ernie all she has to do is convince the producer.
Meanwhile, we meet the suave Victor Rawlins (Brad Dexter) for the first time as he looks the trim Pauline up and down, as she balances on a stepladder (in the midst of watering flowers on a high shelf…). Pauline is having an affair with Rawlins. We soon learn he is a jewel thief and he tells her, “There’s fifty thousand dollars waiting for us.” He’s a smooth talker alright.
Pauline has aided and abetted in the crime, “The watchman saw me,” she says, worried. “Three hours before it happened. You’ve got the perfect alibi,” he assures her. There is talk about leaving New York by boat in the morning. “Why not tonight?” she asks. “I have to take the stuff into Christopher (Jay Adler) and trade it for dollar bills.”
When Ernie pulls up in his taxi (with that box of candy on the passenger seat), he sees his wife in an embrace and kissing Rawlings in the shop doorway. When she looks up, and they walk over, Pauline is startled to see Ernie. He gives her a thunderous stare and then screeches off. “You know him?” Rawlins queries. “My husband,” she says, “he’ll kill me.”
Rawlins decides to do business sooner rather than later and heads over to his fence (the receiver for the stolen goods). Christopher examines the stolen diamonds but is unhappy he has brought his female accomplice. “I never do business with women,” Christopher says emphatically (though, any past experience explaining the reason as to why, isn’t forthcoming). “Haven’t you listened to the radio?” Christopher asks Driscoll. “You killed him when you clubbed him with a gun.”
Pauline becomes hysterical. Ah, that could be the reason… (Though who could blame her). She receives a slap from Christopher’s partner in crime who then pulls a gun on Driscoll.
Meanwhile, Ernie heads back to the taxi rank and throws that box of candy at Stan. He barks, “So, it ends up, I’m married to a tramp.” He aggressively pushes Stan aside and says he’s quitting. Regretful, Ernie relents and they end up sharing a cigarette and a smoke together. Stan tells him to go get a coffee and calm down.
At the coffee house, he runs into Linda James again, who tells the former boxer, “I’ve killed a man.” She takes Ernie to the empty theatre and points to a body lying on the stage. She “recalls” how it happened. The scene is a diversionary set-up by the producers of the screenplay to see if the actor can convincingly play a murderer. The lights are switched on and Ernie is the dupe of this unusual ruse. A most unusual audition indeed.
Linda James succeeds with her audition but Ernie is incensed. Wound up, he does what he knows best and comes out swinging. He lands a few knockout blows on the production ensemble before leaving. Later, Linda James begs forgiveness for the murder sham she put him through. She tells him she’s finished with the production, having walked out. When they go to leave, Ernie discovers his wife is dead in the back of his cab. Rawlins, in trying to save the deal, murders Pauline and in turn, frames Ernie Driscoll. Not even in the boxing ring has he ever been in a tighter spot… The gloves are off.
Things to like
*The dramatic lighting and atmospheric night-time shots of the action at the quayside (Jersey City docks) during the finale. There is also a long shot from the ship’s bow featuring a ship and the pier to its side. The arched gangway reaching across is silhouetted. Atop, is the protagonist and his adversary in a dramatic fight scene.
*Evelyn Keyes (as Linda James) hams it up on the stage for her friend, Ernie Driscoll… The producer asks her to give a full-blooded and “realistic” performance of a would-be murderer for his murder mystery, stage play. Keen to land the role, she commandeers Driscoll under false pretences, telling him, she has killed someone, then taking him back to the theatre to begin her “performance”. The camera remains on her face throughout, as she contorts with distress, angst and pain recounting the details of the “murder” under the watchful eye of the producer and director. Great fun.
*The boxing scenes at the beginning of the film feel authentic, with Driscoll taking a beating with that bloody eye which results in his retirement from the sport.
* Having the protagonist work as a cab driver aids the protagonist, the viewer and the story. Ernie has a camaraderie with his friend and ex-trainer, Stan Hogan, who is a taxi dispatcher. He relays all sorts of information to Ernie (and the viewer): he’s wanted for assault and battery, the whereabouts of the police, and most importantly, Where Rawlins is headed: 99 River Street, The Harbor Café. We are helpfully kept abreast of the happenings.
Quotes
Ernie Driscoll: “There are worse things than murder. You can kill someone an inch at a time.”
***
Ernie Driscoll: “Keep your money. Keep your lines. Keep your theatre with the rats in it!”
***
Lloyd Morgan: “We were out to prove that Miss James could play this part with complete conviction.”
***
Ernie Driscoll (talking to his former boxing manager): “I gotta get back to the one thing I know how to do.”
***
Linda James: “Are you running away?
Ernie Driscoll: “Not from the police. I’m running away from a bad marriage. A woman who thought she’d married the ringside seats and ended up with the gallery. No mink coats, no diamond rings. No, nothing.”
***
Chuck: “Somebody jobbed me. I got a call from a tomato. Said she was lonesome, why didn’t I come over and have a drink. When I walked in the door, the walls fell in.”
Must see scene
The scene: Ernie Driscoll and Linda James drive to 99 River Street, The Harbor Light Café; the location of a payoff involving the murderer, Victor Rawlins (who they are seeking for the murder of Ernie’s wife).
While Driscoll is first distracted by the cops; he’s illegally parked next to a fire hydrant, then later, four mobsters arrive and collar him. Unaware of his kidnap, Linda James enters the establishment with the idea of luring Rawlins outside (for his capture). She eyes him with his back turned, at the far corner of the café. Seeing the jukebox, she selects a jazz record and premeditatively dances in the middle of the floor. Cute, funny and disarming!
She says to no-one in particular, “What’s the matter with you, guys. It’s dead in here.” The man at the bar (not Rawlins), hasn’t taken his eyes off her since she came in, and says, “Revive me, baby.” The man proceeds to dance and whirl her around the café. During the fling, the man’s wife comes out of the bathroom and looks him up and down with disdain and walks away. “Uh-oh. Friend?” Linda James queries. “Wife,” he says solemnly and returns to his seat (and presumably his wife, if she hasn’t already left).
Linda James’ attention now turns to Victor Rawlins in an adjacent seat (though, of course, he has been her target from the get-go). She begins her plan of seduction with some flirtation… “Light,” she requests in ardent tones. Then leaning over, she cradles both of her hands around Rawlings’ neck. She pushes her cigarette against his for an extended time. Even when ignited, she lingers while inhaling, her face close to his. She continues her enticement, though stirred, he ultimately resists her alluring advances. Besides, he’s got a new (fake) passport and a boat to catch.
Summary
A tough and fast-paced crime drama that (more or less) takes place over one long night. This one-two punch B Movie, stars John Payne and Evelyn Keyes, who shine brightly amongst the dirt and depravity of murder and larceny. They are ably backed up by a great supporting cast including Brad Dexter playing the antagonist and villain, albeit a smooth and well-tailored one. This noir doesn’t pull any punches inside the ring or outside of the ropes. A lesser-known noir, but one well worth seeking out.
USA Link: Film Noirs & Pullman Cars (eBook): https://amzn.to/3Xc5nPU (paperback): https://amzn.to/4hLzPIZ
UK Link: Film Noirs & Pullman Cars (eBook): https://amzn.to/3EOe5Oc (paperback): https://amzn.to/41nj15s