TIME TABLE

US, 1956, 79 minutes, Black and white.
Mark Stevens, King Calder, Felicia Farr, Marianne Stewart, Wesley Addy, Alan Reed, Jack Klugman, John Marley.
Directed by Mark Stevens.

Time Table is an interesting small feature from the mid 50s, echoes of film noir. It was directed by Mark Stevens who takes the starring role.

The film opens well with a doctor on the train, Wesley Addy, a medical crisis which turns out to be a cover for a robbery, the doctor overcoming the guards with syringes and taking the money, an ambulance having been called and used for the getaway.

Mark Stevens is Charlie, an insurance investigator, in a rather cold relationship with his wife, Ruth, Marianne Stewart. He becomes involved in the investigation along with his police friend, Joe, King Calder.

It soon emerges that Charlie is the mastermind of the whole plan which must go according to timetable – which, step-by-step, it doesn’t. Charlie is involved in the interrogation of those associated with the robbery, even killing one. In the meantime, the doctor is involved in an accident, the accomplice, Linda, Felicia Farr, with whom Charlie is entangled, goes to Mexico where Charlie tracks her down, paying for false passports to escape the country.

There is an irony when Ruth finds the stolen money in the case, takes it and sends it to the insurance company, Charlie telling her that he is leaving her, but her accompanying the sympathetic Joe as they track down Charlie and Linda in Tijuana – and crime does not pay.

1. A film of the mid 1950s? Tradition, the criminal, the femme fatale, police pursuit, crying not paying?

2. The California settings, the train, insurance offices, the police, apartments, interrogations, transfer to Mexico, the border, Tijuana, the clubs? The musical score?

3. The work of Mark Stevens, directing, starring?

4. The dramatic impact of the opening, the doctor on the train, the sick patient, the guards and the telegram, stopping for the hospital? His going to the luggage carriage, the syringes, the gun, the guards? The transfer of the men to the ambulance?

5. The transition to Charlie and Ruth, planning for the Mexico holiday, the tensions between them? The phone call, Charlie and the insurance investigation, working with Joe, his police method, writing everything down on the board, focusing on the facts, focusing on the persons? The interchanges between the two, the collaboration?

6. The revelation that Charlie had masterminded the whole plan? His contact with Paul, the money, Paul wanting to spend it? Paul and his medical background, the accident and the fraud with the accident, being disbarred? Linda, her role in the enterprise, disguised as blonde?

7. Things beginning to go wrong, Charlie and his perfect plan and timetable? The death, the burial, the involvement of Al Wolfe?

8. Charlie, his continued moods, especially with Ruth? His involvement with Linda, the plan? Going to Mexico?

9. The issue of the helicopter, the owner, the interrogation?

10. The injured man, the death, the burial and its concealment? The interview with Frankie Page, his limited knowledge? The interview with Al Wolfe, getting away from the interrogation, Charlie tracking him down, confronting him, the information, shooting him, making it look like suicide? Joe not satisfied with this event?

11. Charlie, going to Tijuana, the proprietor of the club, arranging the passports, meeting up with Linda? Handing over the money to the manager, the scuffle, the shooting?

12. Joe talking with Ruth, Ruth and meeting Charlie, the irony of her finding the money, sending it away, the declaration of love, Charlie telling her the truth about leaving but not about Linda?

13. Ruth going with the police, Charlie and Linda and fleeing, in the streets, Linda shot, the confrontation with Charlie, his death?

14. And crime doesn’t pay?