I Died A Thousand Times (1955)

Just released from prison, a notorious bank robber (Jack Palance) heads to the High Sierra mountains of California to meet two small time thugs (Lee Marvin, Earl Holliman) who will assist him in the heist of a luxury resort hotel. Based on the novel HIGH SIERRA by William R. Burnett and directed by Stuart Heisler (THE GLASS KEY). Burnett's novel had been filmed twice before in 1941 under its original title and 1949 as a western under the title COLORADO TERRITORY, both films directed by Raoul Walsh. Those were both excellent films so this one has a lot to live up to. It follows the 1941 film so closely, Burnett is given credit for the screenplay. Given the Warnercolor and wide screen treatment, it looks great thanks to Ted McCord's (THE SOUND OF MUSIC) excellent use of the CinemaScope format. If the Walsh pictures hadn't existed, this would probably have a better reputation. But it does exist and as good as it is, it can't help but suffer in comparison. Keeping their mannerisms in check, Palance and Winters both give fine performances and the emotional finale still works. The beauty of a score is by David Buttolph. With Lori Nelson, Dennis Hopper, Nick Adams, Perry Lopez, Olive Carey and Lon Chaney Jr.