tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578997264816756307.post6089799452765296340..comments2024-01-11T05:02:32.321-05:00Comments on Goodfella's Movie Blog: #40: Crime Wave (André de Toth, 1954)Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07134196370913749544noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578997264816756307.post-11466868431717163302010-03-12T21:35:08.555-05:002010-03-12T21:35:08.555-05:00I had a similar experience, Samuel... this was the...I had a similar experience, Samuel... this was the first one I watched in that set and was stoked. Nothing else in the set quite reaches that level, but it's still a wonderful collection and has some other gems.Davehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07134196370913749544noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578997264816756307.post-37964823486047909012010-03-12T21:16:03.801-05:002010-03-12T21:16:03.801-05:00Dave, this was the first film I looked at in the F...Dave, this was the first film I looked at in the Film Noir Vol. 4 box set and it set a high standard. It seems wrong to say that the top-billed star steals the movie, but it should be Nelson's show, and still Hayden's hard-boiled Javert dominates the whole thing. I have no problem with that at all.Samuel Wilsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00934870299522899944noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578997264816756307.post-72991805429883444942010-03-12T20:59:45.727-05:002010-03-12T20:59:45.727-05:00Agreed, Doniphon... it really does look amazing. ...Agreed, Doniphon... it really does look amazing. And each of those Hayden performances you mention are great (I've been meaning to rewatch The Long Goodbye recently too).Davehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07134196370913749544noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578997264816756307.post-1653341789657909902010-03-12T20:26:40.741-05:002010-03-12T20:26:40.741-05:00Sam, don't forget about Day Of The Outlaw, a n...Sam, don't forget about Day Of The Outlaw, a near-great snow western with Robert Ryan and Burl Ives. My other favorite Hayden performances are Johnny Guitar and The Long Goodbye.<br /><br />Dave, I really love this film. There is a depth to the images which is really rare.Doniphonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02407443845368110678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578997264816756307.post-79298255649752068992010-03-12T16:30:38.555-05:002010-03-12T16:30:38.555-05:00Sam - Yes, de Toth really is an outstanding direct...Sam - Yes, de Toth really is an outstanding director in a number of different genres. Pitfall is another masterpiece.<br /><br />John - "It is sad they do not make small films like this anymore" - You're so right on this. There's nothing really spectacular about this one, it's just all-around wonderful filmmaking.Davehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07134196370913749544noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578997264816756307.post-9316836199806051552010-03-12T08:49:46.346-05:002010-03-12T08:49:46.346-05:00A good film Dave, given a lift by Hayden's per...A good film Dave, given a lift by Hayden's performance and De Toth's direction. I pretty much agree with what you and Sam have said here. It is sad they do not make small films like this anymore.Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01808503055317962289noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578997264816756307.post-42213495395448245792010-03-12T07:54:57.249-05:002010-03-12T07:54:57.249-05:00"Despite this misstep, Hayden still shines as..."Despite this misstep, Hayden still shines as the grizzled police veteran and is used by de Toth to masterfully blur the line between good and bad, right and wrong, hero and villain. As a clean, determined, albeit overzealous cop is Sims a hero or a villain? For most the film it is almost impossible to decide. This blurring of roles is the epitome of film noir."<br /><br />Indeed Dave, excellent point here, and this is one of Hayden's best performances, pushing close to the work he accomplished in Kubrick's THE KILLING and Huston's THE ASPHALT JUNGLE. And De Toth, who probably is best known for his direction of HOUSE OF WAX and another noir, PITFALL (as well as this film of course) does turn what could have been a common police procederal into a noir of formidable craftsmanship, one that, as you assert in this exceedingly authoritative piece, rises above it's potentially pedestrian premise.Sam Julianonoreply@blogger.com