THE LINEUP
US, 1958, 86 minutes, Black and white.
Eli Wallach, Robert Keith, Warner Anderson, Richard Jaeckel.
Directed by Don Siegel.
A tough thriller directed by Don Siegel. A director of small-budget films in the 50s, especially the original version of The Body Snatchers, made him a cult figure in France. He moved to bigger budget films in the sixties but with his re-make of The Killers, he moved into a more prestigious role. This was confirmed in his series of films with Clint Eastwood, the best known of which is Dirty Harry.
Dirty Harry was set in the San Francisco police force and echoes the setting of The Line Up in 1958. This film is an expansion of a popular television series. It was also Eli Wallach's second film and he makes great impact as the psychotic killer as does Robert Keith as his partner. On location black and white photography in San Francisco, a fast pace and a ruthlessness in the presentation of the killers at work make this a tough and compelling thriller.
1. The popularity of police films over the decades? The tradition of the gangster films of the thirties and forties? The Naked City type documentary thrillers of the forties and fifties? The Untouchables and the beginning of the television tradition? Audience knowledge of police dramas from films and television, especially those of the 70's? Expectations in judging and retrospect? The focus on the police and their work, the crime? The detective work? Violence? The picture of American society?
2. The background television style of this film? Black and white photography? The use of San Francisco? city locations authentic atmosphere as well as dramatic action? Buildings, roads, freeways, bridges, etc.? The authentic background of the drama? The musical score? The cast?
3. The Naked City documentary style and audience response to its conventions? The basic crime situation, the giving of statistics, the presentation of the policemen and their types? The focus on the criminals, the nature of their crimes, syndicates and organisation, violence, victims? The authentic atmosphere?
4. The work of Don Siegel seen in retrospect? Pace, action, the relentlessness and ruthlessness of the killers? The quick delineation of character? Suggestion of character and themes? A tough picture of America?
5. The presentation of the basic situation: the porter, the case in the taxi, the killing of the policeman, the death of the cab driver? The introduction of the police? The ordinary citizen used as a drug carrier? Police methods, interrogations, surveillance, the line up? The leading in to the various themes of the film? The police as persons? manner, style, dress, way of speaking? The following of leads? The dead porter? Interviews, radio contact, patrols, etc?
7. The point of ordinary citizens being carriers: the opera manager, the couple coming back from holidays and the death of their servant, the mother and daughter? The consequences of the victims - the mother and daughter in the hotel sequence, aquarium, Dancer and his violence towards them?
8. The focus on the criminals: the organisation, the unknown and unseen organiser, the taxi driver, the porter - heroin habits? The greedy sailor and his death in the sauna?
9. The picture of the organisation: the driver and his skill, drinking? His comments on the action?
10. Dancer and Julian and their coming into San Francisco by plane, Dancer improving his English, Julian and his style and his control and tutoring of Dancer? His penchant for last words and his psychopathic interest in them? The hiring of interstate criminals? The motel, giving of orders? The staking out of the victims? Dancer and his interview with the sailor and killing him in the sauna? Julian covering? The threatening of the servant and killing him? The search in the hotel, Dancer's smooth talk and quick thinking in the aquarium, his picture of loneliness, the woman responding. the hotel room, the search of the doll and smashing it? Julian persuading him not to kill the mother and daughter? Their being taken as hostages? His interview with the head of the organisation to explain? His violent reaction and killing him?
11. Dancer and his character? Julian's description of him as a psychopath? His allusion to his father? His relying on Julian? Julian's control and persuasion? His final mistake and Dancer's threatening him and breaking free? The violent eruption in the death of the man, the chase, the violence on the edge of the freeway?
12. Julian as well-mannered, abhorring violence, preoccupied with last words? Psychopath? Hoping for a nice day and the irony of the 4.30 siren?
13. The personality of the Organiser, crippled, making the collection, listening to Dancer, threatening him and his death?
14. The various set pieces of action the murders, the chase, the dramatics on the freeway?
15. An adequate picture of police work? A blend of ordinariness and heroics?
