I WALK ALONE
US, 1948, 97 minutes, Black and white.
Burt Lancaster, Lizabeth Scott, Kirk Douglas, Wendell Corey, Mike Mazurki, Marc Lawrence.
Directed by Byron Haskin.
I Walk Alone is a film noir of the late 1940s. Kirk Douglas and Burt Lancaster had emerged in films during these years in such films as The Killers and The Strange Love of Martha Ivers. They were to appear together in a number of films including Seven Days in May, The Devil’s Disciple, Tough Guys.
They portray two gangsters who were involved in bootlegging during the prohibition years. The Burt Lancaster character goes to prison, the Kirk Douglas character goes legitimate and owns a club. On release, Burt Lancaster thinks that his pal owes him something. However, this is not the case and the pal decides to eliminate him, especially using his former girlfriend played by the sultry Lizabeth Scott.
In a way, the material is familiar – but is always interesting in itself and especially with the strong presence of the two stars. The film was directed by Byron Haskin, probably better known for his science fiction films, Conquest of Space, Robinson Crusoe on Mars, From the Earth to the Moon. He also directed the classic Disney Treasure Island and its sequel Long John Silver.
1. The overtones of the title for this film? during the credits?
2. How successful a crime melodrama was this? Its use of conventional settings, characters, tough lines, shooting etc? did it transcend in any way its conventions?
3. How important was the character of Frankie? Audience identification with him? The explanation of his background and the subsequent flashback? The impact of his getting out of prison, his re-looking at New York, reading him correctly, his encounter with Dave? Was Frankie a sentimental person? Was this part of his downfall? How single-minded was he in his aims? In his relationships? The memory of his 50/50 partnership and taking this at face value? Noll and using and betraying him? How was this balanced by Kay's response to him? His resorting to action against Noll? The finding of how out of date he was, crime, arms and toughness against money finance and by-laws? The impact of this on him? The impact of his being bathed? Why did these lead to decisions on his part? Was it the first time that he had made such decisions for his life? The influence and support of Kay? His skill and ability in tricking Noll into a confession? The prospects for him at the end, his future? What values did Frankie stand for? Tough American individualism, the rugged hero, the man moulded by the past and tending to live in it, his experience outside the law, bitterness fostered in prison? how typical an American hero was Frankie?
4. How did he contrast with Noll? Noll’s behaviour in the past, his betrayal? Noll’s ambition and using people? His obsession with money and success? With respectability? His understanding of finance and outsmarting people? His hold over Morris, Kay, Dave? His relationship with the divorcee and using her for money? What emotions did he have? The fact that he was outsmarted? His fear of Frankie and his desperate measures in shooting? Dave? What meaning was there to his life when he was arrested? How typical an American gangster?
5. The exploration of Dave, as used, needs, so killable? A risk and a threat to people like Noll when he turns against them? The inevitability of his being shot?
6. Kay as the typical heroine of such a film? Her sons in the bar etc? The touch of glamour? Her being likened to Frankie? Sympathy and support of Frankie, disillusionment with Noll, her decisions and change? Her future?
7. Dan and company, used by Noll, the change of situations, gangsters?
8. The 40s film noir, characters, situations, crime, betrayal, women? Crisp dialogue? Literal black and white?
