The Big Steal
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- The Big Steal is also a 1990 Australian film starring Ben Mendelsohn and Claudia Karvan.
| The Big Steal | |
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 British VHS Cover |
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| Directed by | Don Siegel |
| Produced by | Jack J. Gross |
| Written by | Screenplay: Gerald Drayson Adams Daniel Mainwaring Story Richard Wormser |
| Starring | Robert Mitchum Jane Greer William Bendix Patric Knowles Ramón Novarro |
| Music by | Leigh Harline |
| Cinematography | Harry J. Wild |
| Editing by | Samuel E. Beetley |
| Distributed by | RKO Radio Pictures |
| Release date(s) | July 9, 1949 (U.S.A.) |
| Running time | 71 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Allmovie profile | |
| IMDb profile | |
The Big Steal is a 1949 black-and-white film noir/comedy reteaming Out of the Past stars Robert Mitchum and Jane Greer. The film was directed by Don Siegel, based on the story The Road to Carmichael's by Richard Wormser.[1]
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[edit] Plot
The story involves Mitchum and Greer pursuing thief (Patric Knowles) through Mexico while simultaneously being chased by a lawman (Bendix).
[edit] Background
Lizabeth Scott was hired first to play the part of Joan. But because of the controversy surrounding Mitchum's recent marijuana drug arrest and small jail stint, Scott pulled out of the project just three weeks before filming started. RKO owner Howard Hughes, who had been admittedly keeping Greer, a former girlfriend, from appearing in any RKO films in an attempt to ruin her film career, finally hired her when no other female lead would take the part.
The movie was filmed in Los Angeles and on location in Tehuacán, Puebla, Mexico.
[edit] Cast
- Robert Mitchum as Lt. Duke Halliday
- Jane Greer as Joan 'Chiquita' Graham
- William Bendix as Capt. Vincent Blake
- Patric Knowles as Jim Fiske
- Ramon Novarro as Inspector General Ortega
- Don Alvarado as Lt. Ruiz
- John Qualen as Julius Seton
- Pascual García Peña as Manuel
[edit] Critical reception
Channel 4 film reviews describes the movie as, "Sparkling dialogues, fast-paced chases and the occasional twist make this an at first somewhat confusing but ultimately hugely entertaining film."[2]
Hal Erickson writing for the All Movie Guide calls the film "tautly directed by Don Siegel, who manages to pack plenty of twists and turns into the film's crowded 71 minutes."[3]
[edit] References
- ^ The Big Steal at the Internet Movie Database.
- ^ Channel 4 Film Reviews. LAst accessed: March 11]] 2008.
- ^ Erikson, Hal. The Big Steal at Allmovie.
[edit] Additional sources
- ^ Ken Annakin (2003). Early Film Noir: Greed, Lust and Murder Hollywood Style. McFarland & Company. ISBN 0-7864-1629-7.
[edit] External links
- The Big Steal at the Internet Movie Database.
- The Big Steal at the TCM Movie Database.
- The Big Steal at Allmovie.
- The Big Steal at Film Noir of the Week.
- Shades of Black and Brown: Visions of Mexico and Mexican-Americans in 1940s Film Noir
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