Criss Cross (1949)

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Director: Robert Siodmak

Writers: Daniel Fuchs, from a novel by Don Tracy

Stars: Burt Lancaster, Yvonne de Carlo, Dan Duryea, Stephen McNally, Esy Morales, Tom Pedi



An armored car driver (Burt Lancaster) involves himself in a robbery scheme in order to protect both himself and his ex-wife (Yvonne de Carlo), whom he still loves and is now married to a local gangster (Dan Duryea).

 


This is a hard, uncompromising example of film noir, featuring great performances and generating true suspense.

 


The finale of this film is certainly no cop-out and demonstrates that, although films of the 40s were not as graphic as those of today, they were nevertheless often edgier and tougher than most of what comes out now.































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