Crime Wave (1954)

An ex-convict (Gene Nelson) is trying to reform with a steady job and a wife (Phyllis Kirk) who keeps him on the straight and narrow path. But when a couple of escaped prisoners (Ted De Corsia, Charles Bronson) kill a cop in a bungled robbery, they head to the ex-con's place and blackmail him into joining them in a bank heist. Based on the short story CRIMINAL'S MARK by John and Ward Hawkins and directed by Andre De Toth (HOUSE OF WAX). This B programmer sat on the shelf for a couple of years before Warners released it but in the ensuing years, it's become a much admired film among the noir crowd. The screenplay is very routine and the dialogue is poor and the normally reliable Sterling Hayden gives an awful performance. Bad enough to give credence held in certain quarters that he couldn't actually act. But the film looks fantastic courtesy of Bert Glennon's (STAGECOACH) B&W cinematography all shot on location on the streets of L.A. and De Toth gives the film a thick slice of energy that keeps it moving nicely. The film belongs to Gene Nelson, a hoofer known for musicals like OKLAHOMA! (he played Will) and TEA FOR TWO but gives a standout dramatic performance here. With Jay Novello, Iris Adrian and Timothy Carey.