Criss Cross (film)
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| Criss Cross | |
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 Theatrical Poster |
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| Directed by | Robert Siodmak |
| Produced by | Michael Kraike |
| Written by | Screenplay: Daniel Fuchs Novel: Don Tracy |
| Starring | Burt Lancaster Yvonne De Carlo Dan Duryea |
| Music by | Miklós Rózsa |
| Cinematography | Franz Planer |
| Editing by | Ted J. Kent |
| Distributed by | Universal International Pictures |
| Release date(s) | January 12, 1949 (U.S.A.) |
| Running time | 87 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Allmovie profile | |
| IMDb profile | |
Criss Cross (1949) is a film noir, directed by Robert Siodmak from a novel by Don Tracy. This black and white film was shot partly on location in the Bunker Hill section of Los Angeles. The film was written by Daniel Fuchs. Franz Planer's cinematography creates a black-and-white film noir world. Miklós Rózsa scored the film's soundtrack.[1]
The production nearly derailed when producer Mark Hellinger died suddenly before filming began. Lancaster claimed he was unhappy with the way Siodmak and Fuchs had reworked Hellinger's idea of a racetrack heist into a fatal romantic triangle.
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[edit] Plot
Reuniting with director Siodmak after their success with Ernest Hemingway's The Killers, Burt Lancaster plays Steve Thompson, a man who seals his dark fate when he returns to Los Angeles to find his ex-wife Anna Dundee (Yvonne DeCarlo) eager to rekindle their love against all better judgment.
She encourages their affair but then quickly marries mobster Slim Dundee (Dan Duryea). To deflect suspicion of the affair, Steve Thompson leads Dundee into a daylight armored-truck robbery, only to be "criss crossed" when the crime is pulled off.
[edit] Background
The film features 1940s film footage of Angels Flight and Union Station in Los Angeles.
Criss Cross features the screen debut of Tony Curtis (then known as James Curtis). Curtis plays De Carlo's dance partner in a key scene at the Round-Up Bar. Once the dance ends, he disappears from both scene and film. Curtis was chosen by the director after many young hopefuls had auditioned for the part. The song Curtis and De Carlo dance to is called "Jungle Fantasy" and is performed by Esy Morales who also makes a cameo appearance in this scene.
[edit] Cast
- Burt Lancaster as Steve Thompson
- Yvonne De Carlo as Anna Dundee
- Dan Duryea as Slim Dundee
- Stephen McNally as Det. Lt. Pete Ramirez
- Esy Morales and His Rhumba Band
- Tom Pedi as Vincent
- Percy Helton as Frank
- Alan Napier as Finchley
- Griff Barnett as Pop
- Meg Randall as Helen
- Richard Long as Slade Thompson
- Joan Miller as The Lush
- Edna Holland as Mrs. Thompson
- John Doucette as Walt
- Marc Krah as Mort
[edit] Critical reception
When released, The New York Times gave the film a mixed review, writing, "A tough, mildly exciting melodrama about gangsters and a dame named Anna who 'gets into the blood' of a guy named Steve and causes him no end of trouble...In many ways Criss Cross is a suspenseful action picture, due to the resourceful directing of Robert Siodmak. But it also is tedious and plodding at times, due partly to Mr. Siodmak's indulgence of a script that is verbose, redundant and imitative. However, the writers should be credited with having invested the old triangle-gangster formula with a couple of fresh if not exactly revolutionary twists."[2]
Film critic Dennis Schwartz recently wrote, "Robert Siodmak ...directs this cynical film noir of obsessive love and betrayal. It's 1940s film noir at its most influentual as far as style goes, that is further enhanced by the beautiful dark photography of Frank Planer, the tight script by Daniel Fuchs, and the taut pacing by Siodmak. It's based on a story by Don Tracy...Siodmak keeps the suspense at a feverish pitch, and the characterizations are well drawn out. Criss Cross is one of the great examples of 1940s film noir at its most tragic. A must see film for fans of the genre."[3]
Dave Kehr, film critic for the Chicago Reader, lauded the film and wrote, "Robert Siodmak was one of the most influential stylists of the 40s, helping to create, in films such as Phantom Lady and The Killers, the characteristic look of American film noir. But most of his films have nothing more than their pictorial qualities to recommend them--Criss Cross being one of the few exceptions, an archly noir story replete with triple and quadruple crosses, leading up to one of the most shockingly cynical endings in the whole genre."[4]
The review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes reported that 100% of critics gave the film a positive review, based on 8 reviews."[5]
[edit] Adaptation
The film was remade as Underneath directed by Stephen Soderberg in 1995.[6]
[edit] Awards
Nomination
- Edgar Allan Poe Awards: Edgar, Best Motion Picture, Daniel Fuchs and Don Tracy (novel); 1950.
[edit] Notable quote
Detective Lt. Pete Ramirez: I should have been a better friend. I shoulda stopped you. I shoulda grabbed you by the neck, I shoulda kicked your teeth in. I'm sorry Steve.
[edit] References
- ^ Criss Cross at the Internet Movie Database.
- ^ The New York Times. Film review, "Burt Lancaster Same Old Tough Guy," March 12, 1949. Last accessed: March 22, 2008.
- ^ Schwartz, Dennis. Ozus' World Movie Reviews,. film review, October 26, 2004. Last accessed: March 23, 2008.
- ^ Kehr, Dave. Chicago Reader, film review, 1996-2008. Last accessed: March 23, 2008.
- ^ Criss Cross at Rotten Tomatoes. Last accessed: March 23, 2008.
- ^ The Underneath at the Internet Movie Database.
[edit] External links
- Criss Cross at the Internet Movie Database.
- Criss Cross at Allmovie.
- Criss Cross at the TCM Movie Database.
- Criss Cross at Film Noir of the Week by Gary George.
- Criss Cross at DVD Beaver (includes images).
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