99 River Street

Director: Phil Karlson Phil Karlson

Overview

Ernie Driscoll (John Payne) is an ex-fighter who came within seconds of winning the world championship. He's now forced to eke out a living driving a cab. A basically decent guy, he has lots of people who care about him, including Linda James (Evelyn Keyes), a slightly ditsy actress friend -- but Ernie also has a short fuse, especially where his wife Pauline (Peggie Castle) is concerned. His rage boils over when he spots her kissing another man, but her unfaithfulness turns out to be the least of his worries. The man she's seeing, Vic Rawlins (Brad Dexter), is a career criminal with both the police and his former partners after him, and he sees Ernie as the perfect fall-guy. The law and Rawlins' criminal associates are soon closing in on Ernie, while he tries desperately -- with Linda's help -- to buy the time he needs to unravel this nightmare.

Product Details

Release Date:	01/15/2011
UPC:	0883904237761
Original Release:	1953
Source:	Mgm Mod
Presentation:	[Full Frame]
Sound:	[monaural]
Language:	English
Time:	1:23:00
Sales rank:	33,067

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

John Payne	Ernie Driscoll
Evelyn Keyes	Linda James
Peggie Castle	Pauline Driscoll
Frank Faylen	Stan Hogan
Brad Dexter	Victor Rawlins
Jay Adler	Christopher
Jack Lambert	Mickey
Eddy Waller	Pop Dudkee
Glenn Langan	Lloyd Morgan
John Day	Bud
Ian Wolfe	Walde Daggett
Peter Leeds	Nat Finley
William Tannen	Director
Gene Reynolds	Chuck

Technical Credits

Robert Smith

Phil Karlson	Director
Robert Smith	Screenwriter
Edward Small	Producer
Lambert Day	Sound/Sound Designer

Editorial Reviews

99 River Street is one of director Phil Karlson's brutal, sweaty excursions into film noir, and it has as many detractors as it has admirers. Certainly, there's a lot to applaud in River, starting with the economical way in which Karlson tells this complicated story. Karlson, as usual, is in love with close-ups, and there's a reason for it: they force the audience to concentrate on the character at hand, to experience his experience in a direct and no-nonsense manner. But cinematographer Franz Planer isn't content to pack everything into the close-ups; he provides some stunning, evocative shots and angles that compliment and enhance the action and the storytelling. Planer and Karlson are especially good with the climactic sequence, which is expertly handled. And the cast, especially John Payne, is in top form. And yet all of this talent and expertise is in pursuit of what is, at base, a rather ordinary story -- and one that, despite Karlson's skill, is still more than a little convoluted. In addition, Karlson's world view may come across as too cynical and/or simplistic for some. Not for every taste, 99 River Street still packs an undeniable wallop.

All Movie Guide - Craig Butler