THE CROOKED WAY
US, 1949, 90 minutes, Black and white.
John Payne, Sonny Tufts, Ellen Drew, Rhys Williams, Percy Helton.
Directed by Robert Florey.
The Crooked Way is a film noir focusing on veterans returning from World War Two. John Payne portrays an amnesiac with shrapnel in his brain so that he will never recover. He travels to Los Angeles to discover his previous life only to find that he was involved in a criminal world. Sonny Tufts is the criminal chief. Ellen Drew is his former wife. Rhys Williams is the policeman who wants to wrap up the crime investigation.
John Payne is a fairly stolid figure but the film works well, photographed in stark black and white by John Alton and directed by Robert Florey (The Beast With Five Fingers). It is similar in theme to John Hodiak’s Somewhere in the Night.
1.A film of the 1940s? Visual style, acting style? Themes? World War Two?
2.The Los Angeles settings, the city itself, the streets, clubs, apartments? Realistic atmosphere? Musical score?
3.The title, the reference to Eddie Rice? To Vince Alexander? The criminal world of Los Angeles?
4.The introduction to Eddie, his amnesia, the first impressions of him as a character? The discussions with the doctor, the interrogation? The explanation of his amnesia, the shrapnel? His decision to go to Los Angeles? The irony of his meeting the police on his arrival?
5.His decision to follow leads, the police and their comments, talking about Alexander? The meeting with Nina? Her taking him to the hotel, her telling Vince? The arrival of the thugs, the bashing?
6.The revelation of what had happened, Alexander going to jail, Eddie and his giving information to the police? His marriage to Nina? His going into the army? His heroism?
7.Alexander, manic? His thugs? Their brutality? His confrontation with Eddie? The information from Nina? With the lieutenant, killing him? With Petey, getting information?
8.Eddie, his deciding to stay, Nina being advised to persuade him to stay, her wanting him to go? The revelation about their marriage?
9.The framing of Eddie for Lieutenant Williams’ murder? His being taken by Vince? The confrontation, Vince’s death?
10.Petey, an odd character, his giving information, helping, his death?
11.The elements of the film noir? A B-budget film? Interesting in its picture of the times?
