DOWN THREE DARK STREETS

US, 1954, 85 minutes, Black and white.
Broderick Crawford, Ruth Roman, Martha Hyer, Marisa Pavan, Casey Adams, Kenneth Tobey.
Directed by Arnold Laven.

Down Three Dark Streets is a competent FBI study of the early '50s. In later decades, of course, this would have been material for episodes of a television series. However, in the early and mid-'50s it was material for a black and white B feature. The cast is competent, including Oscar-winner Broderick Crawford with Ruth Roman. In support are a number of stars who were to emerge later in the '50s or on television - including Martha Hyer, Claude Akins.

The film focuses on three interconnected stories, has the usual voice-over praising the work and competence of the FBI, with a melodramatic conclusion - with faith in the FBI and things American. Direction is by Arnold Laven, who was to direct a number of action features in the '60s and early '70s.

1. Entertaining FBI story? Semi-documentary style?

2. Black and white photography, California settings? Los Angeles? The world of the FBI and its officers? Au authentic atmosphere?

3. The title, the three different stories and their interconnection? The FBI, its place in American society, American security? The voice-over praising the FBI and explaining its procedures, techniques, personnel?

4. Stewart and the initial investigations, the three cases: the gangster and the shoot-out on the road to California, the extortionist and his telephoning Kate, Angelino and the stealing of cars? The investigations, his dedication, the sentiment about his family, the murder? The FBI and the urgency of the investigation?

5. Ripley, his skills, the investigation, questioning, lab work, interviews with Kate, the meetings with the semantics professor, on the road? The stakeout and the final shoot-outs? Competent FBI official? The portrayal of the other FBI personnel, investigators, lab technicians, professors?

6. The gangster story: his shooting the garage attendant, his girlfriend, the FBI interrogating her, her glamorous style, coming from nothing, being kept, the gifts? Her disdain of the officials? Their playing on her emotions, telling her that her boyfriend had another woman? Her jealousy, driving, trying to elude pursuers, meeting with the gangster, the stakeout, the shoot-out and his death?

7. The Angelino story - the stolen car racket, his arrest, going to prison, his wife, the interrogations, the emergence of her blindness, sympathetic character, love for her husband? The boxer and his attacking her? Her ability to get a description and convey it to the police? The tracking down of the boxer, the interrogation, confronting him with Angelino, the story about the attack on his wife? The confession, the arrests? The reconciliation?

8. Kate and her daughter, the death of her husband and the insurance? Her professional work? The phone call, getting in touch with the FBI? Her housekeeper and care of the daughter? The uncle and his gambling? The neighbour and his need for money? David and his friendship, the date, drinking, her rejection of him? The gift of the bicycle, at the party? Suspicious characters for the extortion? Her keeping the appointments? The FBI monitoring her phone, surveillance, the suspects? The birthday party and the recordings, the semantics? Fingerprints on the glasses? The pinpointing of the extortionist? His phone call, Kate following the directions, on the Hollywood sign, the confrontation and the truth? (And audiences being suspicious of him, anyhow?)

9. The resolution of the cases? Interesting in themselves? As a B-film of the '50s?