ONE WAY STREET

US, 1950, 79 minutes, Black and white.
James Mason, Marta Toren, Dan Duryea, William Conrad, King Donovan, Jack Elam.
Directed by Hugo Fregonese.

One Way Street is a brief thriller from Universal Studios of the late 1940s, the type of thriller that they made frequently. It is of some interest as one of the earliest films starring James Mason in his move from England to the United States. As such, it is not a particularly good film and certainly pales in comparison with the films he had made in England. However, he was on the verge of making such films as The Desert Fox and Five Fingers and establishing a long career. Marta Toren is the heroine. Dan Duryea is the villain - his usual neurotic self. William Conrad appears briefly as another villain. The film is one of criminals, repentance and doing good, poetic justice.

1. Enjoyable and brief thriller? Crime thriller? Crime not paying, repentance?

2. Universal production: black and white photography, Los Angeles settings, Mexican settings? Musical score?

3. The title and its indication of themes?

4. James Mason as the doctor: his being in alliance with Wheeler and the criminals, helping them and their injuries? His plan to double-cross them, taking the money and Laura? Coolness? Going to Mexico, the Mexican bandits, the priest, his moving around with Laura, relationship with her, clashes and reconciliation, his doing good? The effect of his work on him and his changing people's lives? Wheeler's pursuit? Going back, the confrontation, the deaths? Everything at rights - and the irony of his accidental death?

5. Laura, her place with the criminals, with the doctor, going with him fear, in Mexico, sharing his life supporting him, her grief at his death?

6. Wheeler as criminal, his gang, nervous edge, the doctor persuading him that he was infected, letting him go, his continued vengeance, searching him out? The final confrontations? The irony of his being killed by his henchman? The sketch of the other criminals?

7. Mexico, the bandits, ordinary people, health questions, the doctor supporting them?

8. The role of the priest, his work, understanding the doctor, support, getting him working?

9. Crime feature, crime not paying, poetic justice?