Home | Movies By Year | Movies from 1953
99 River Street
Buy 99 River Street now from AmazonFirst, read the Wikipedia article. Then, scroll down to see what other TopShelfReviews readers thought about the movie. And once you've experienced the movie, tell everyone what you thought about it.
Wikipedia article
'99 River Street' is a 1953 film noir directed by Phil Karlson and starring John Payne and Evelyn Keyes. It also features Brad Dexter, Frank Faylen, and Peggie Castle. The screenplay is by Robert Smith, based on a short story by George Zuckerman. The film was produced by Edward Small, with cinematography by Franz Planer..
Plot
Ernie Driscoll is a former boxer who, after sustaining an injury in the ring severe enough to force him to give up prize-fighting, is a New York taxi driver.
His wife, Pauline, unhappy living a hard-up life, is having an affair with well-heeled jewel thief Victor Rawlins. An arrangement Rawlins made, to be paid for a batch of diamonds he has stolen, falls through; his fence indicates it is the presence of Pauline that has impeded the deal. In an effort to rekindle it, Rawlins kills Pauline and attempts to frame Driscoll for the murder.
With the help of a female acquaintance, Driscoll tries to track down Rawlins before the criminal leaves the country.
Cast
* John Payne as Ernie Driscoll
* Evelyn Keyes as Linda James
* Brad Dexter as Victor Rawlins
* Frank Faylen as Stan Hogan
* Peggie Castle as Pauline Driscoll
* Jay Adler as Christopher
* Jack Lambert as Mickey
* Glenn Langan as Lloyd Morgan
* Eddy Waller as Pop Durkee
* John Day as Bud
* Ian Wolfe as Waldo Daggett
* Peter Leeds as Nat Finley
* William Tannen as director
* Gene Reynolds as Chuck
* Paul Bryar as bartender
'Source:'
'Cast notes:'
*In 1961, John Payne's acting career was interrupted when he was hit by a car while crossing Madison Avenue in New York City. Although he survived the accident thanks to surgical intervention and lengthy rehabilitation, his film and television appearances after his attempted comeback were sporadic, and ended in the 1970s.Muller, Eddie (April 7, 2019) Outro to the Turner Classic Movies presentation
*Peggie Castle's acting career began in 1950 when she – along with Piper Laurie, Barbara Bates, Mona Freeman and Barbara Payton – was touted as one of that year's "Baby Stars".
Production
The rights to George Zuckerman's short story "Crosstown" were originally purchased by producer Albert Zugsmith, who sold them to Edward Small. Actress Linda Darnell was Small's first choice to play the female lead played in the film by Evelyn Keyes. The film was originally known as 'Crosstown'.Staff (March 13, 1953) review 'Los Angeles Times' The name was changed two months before the film's release.Muller, Eddie (April 7, 2019) Intro to the Turner Classic Movies presentation
Reception
'The New York Times' film critic gave the film a negative review, writing that the film "...is one of those tasteless melodramas peopled with unpleasant hoods, two-timing blondes and lots of sequences of what purports to be everyday life in the underworld. In this stale rehash, John Payne is a cabbie seething with dreams of what he might have been in the boxing world ... To say that this film is offensive would be kind; to point out that it induces an irritated boredom would be accurate. The defendants in this artistic felony are Robert Smith, the scenarist, and Phil Karlson, the director. It is interesting to ponder how Mr. Karlson managed to slip some objectionable scenes past the production code. Maybe it was just artistic license."Staff (October 3, 1953) [https://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9F01E7D9143DE23BBC4B53DFB6678388649EDE "Melodrama of Murder"] 'The New York Times' Accessed:July 6, 2013
Modern critics gave the film positive reviews,Rotten Tomatoes [https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/99_river_street] Accessed:September 27, 2019 Dave Kehr writing that "Phil Karlson directed this low-budget independent film noir in 1953, and it's an example of the kind of humble brilliance that often emerged from the American genre cinema."99 River Street | Chicago Reader [https://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/99-river-street/Film?oid=1065445] 'Chicago Reader' Accessed:September 27, 2019
Martin Scorsese and Jonathan Rosenbaum cited it in some lists of best and favourite movies that they have submitted over the years.theyshootpictures.com [http://theyshootpictures.com/karlsonphil.htm] Accessed:September 27, 2019
References
Buy 99 River Street now from Amazon
<-- Return to movies from 1953