Behind The High Wall (1956)

A group of convicts break out of prison, kidnapping the warden (Tom Tully). However, when a car crash kills everyone but the warden and a garage mechanic (John Gavin) forced to drive the getaway car, the warden takes the escapees' loot ($100,000) leaving the innocent mechanic to take the blame. Directed by actor (GUNGA DIN) turned director Abner Biberman (GUN FOR A COWARD). Nothing works in this misfire of a noir crime film. While it's nice to see character actor Tom Tully in a rare leading role, his character is so morally reprehensible that any empathy goes out the window yet Gavin's innocent dupe is so dumb (not to mention poorly acted) that I stopped caring about the fate of his character early on. Betty Lynn as Gavin's faithful girlfriend grates on one's nerves too and their scenes together are unpleasant. That leaves a wasted Sylvia Sidney as Tully's wheelchair ridden wife to hold our interest. The ludicrous ending had me rolling my eyes. All in all, a real stinker. With John Larch, Ed Kemmer and John Beradino.