Kiss Of Death (1947)

A small time hoodlum (Victor Mature) is convicted for a jewel heist and sent to prison. Three years into his incarceration, he's double crossed by his shyster lawyer (Taylor Holmes) and accomplices. He makes a deal with the assistant District Attorney (Brian Donlevy) and is paroled but it's not that easy. Directed by Henry Hathaway (TRUE GRIT). A very good example of film noir done in a semi documentary style (pioneered by producer Louis De Rochemont in movies like THE HOUSE ON 92ND STREET). Shot almost entirely on location in New York City in striking B&W by Norbert Brodine (13 RUE MADELEINE) to give a sense of realism to the film. To appease the censors, Patricia Morison's scenes as Mature's wife were deleted from the film as it featured rape and suicide. As the maniacal Tommy Udo, Richard Widmark made his film debut and received an Oscar nomination and while he almost seems too much, it's an effective performance. His shoving the wheelchair bound Mildred Dunnock down a flight of stairs while grinning is an iconic moment in film noir. With Coleen Gray, Karl Malden and Millard Mitchell.