sineaste Posted February 15, 2010 Share Posted February 15, 2010 I guess he really is just happy to see us. Bob's back and Jane's got him, or is it the other way around? I haven't seen The Big Steal in years, but caught up with it again recently on YT, and it's still as good as ever, a sunny side antidote to the much darker Out of the Past, from two years earlier. Mitchum and Greer are back together, but in a much more positive frame of mind, no longer up the existential creek without a meaning. Patrick Knowles plays the dirty double-crosser, who stole a large Army payroll from Mitchum and "borrowed " $2,000 from Jane. As he takes off through Mexico, the two team up in an initially uneasy alliance in order to get their monies back. They are also being chased by William Bendix, doing his usual tough guy thing, as Mitchum's superior officer, who thinks Bob was in on the heist. As they follow Sir Patrick through the back roads of Mexico, they gradually warm up to each other. This time Jane is still making with the wisecracks, but she's a good girl who gives Bob a run for his money, and Bob returns the favor by calling her Chiquita. After many twists and turns south of the border, things end up well for both Bob and Jane, and by the end of the film they are no longer a bickering twosome, but have fallen in love. My, what a surprise! John Qualen has a supporting role as a bad guy, something I can't remember him doing very often. He was in a zillion movies, so maybe he played that part before, but it is a big change from his usual meek and mild Scandinavian eyes cast down type. There's plenty of action and witty dialog along the way, and though the film zips by in 71 minutes, it never feels rushed. It's one of the most lighthearted and relaxed noirs to come down the road. Link to post Share on other sites
HollywoodGolightly Posted February 15, 2010 Share Posted February 15, 2010 This is one of my favorite "light" noirs, precisely for the reasons you mentioned, sineaste, it's great to see Mitchum and Greer together again, although this time it's a bit more light-hearted. I guess it's been a while since it was on TCM, but at least it has also been released on DVD (and looks great!) Link to post Share on other sites
sineaste Posted February 15, 2010 Author Share Posted February 15, 2010 I hadn't seen it in at least ten years, and it holds up quite well. It's almost a comedy-noir, with a very sunny disposition. Plus it's nice to see these two sweet kids wind up happily ever after for a change, instead of dead ever after. Link to post Share on other sites
HollywoodGolightly Posted February 15, 2010 Share Posted February 15, 2010 Yes, and you can tell that they actually did shoot some of it in Mexico - it wasn't just a backlot, I'm sure. Link to post Share on other sites
mrroberts Posted February 15, 2010 Share Posted February 15, 2010 I first saw this movie on TCM a few years ago, and it is definitely a favorite for me. This is the film made right in the middle of Mitchum's "brush" with the law. I think it is very entertaining, would be a great "date" flick. Being an old car buff, I spent some time trying to identify the car they drive. Its a 1934 Buick. Now when I go to shows, if I see one I tell the people thats "A Big Steal Car". Link to post Share on other sites
mrroberts Posted February 16, 2010 Share Posted February 16, 2010 Most of the movie was done on location, Don Siegel directs, great car chase sequence. And Ramon Novarro has a nice role too. Link to post Share on other sites
markbeckuaf Posted February 16, 2010 Share Posted February 16, 2010 Thanks, I really dig this flick! Good stuff! Link to post Share on other sites
HollywoodGolightly Posted February 16, 2010 Share Posted February 16, 2010 I had forgotten that Don Siegel directed. He was an extraordinary director who started out in the 40s and his influence is still being felt today, because Clint Eastwood was his protege and learned a lot about directing from him. Link to post Share on other sites
sineaste Posted February 16, 2010 Author Share Posted February 16, 2010 I should have mentioned Don Siegel directed it in my original post. He did a superb job of keeping things on pace and mixing the romance and action in just the right proportions. Whatever the car was, it sure took a beating. Great car chase along those winding roads, though some of the more hairy shots must have been back-projection. Too bad Bob couldn't make it to the border before his pot arrest. The movie had a lot of fun with most of the Americans not being able to understand much Spanish. Bob had to rely on Jane, who was pretty fluent, to know what was going on sometimes. Luckily, she was trustworthy (this time). Link to post Share on other sites
mrroberts Posted February 16, 2010 Share Posted February 16, 2010 Not to give too much away, I have the DVD and it has commentary. The original script was a much tougher story, but with the circumstances involving Robert Mitchum's personal life at the time they lightened the story up considerably to help his public image. And Jane Greer was pregnant during the filming, of course they had to accommodate her with wardrobe, etc. Link to post Share on other sites
redriver Posted February 17, 2010 Share Posted February 17, 2010 This fine chase film was a frequent feature on late night TV in Chicago. It was in that venue that I first saw this and OUT OF THE PAST. As for Mr. Siegel, if you directed INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS, you're A-OK in my movie guide. His THE KILLERS stands tall in the shadow of its superior predecessor. I like DIRTY HARRY and THE SHOOTIST. And I would give a month's supply of Raisinets to see THE VERDICT! I may have seen it years ago. If I don't remember, it doesn't count! Link to post Share on other sites
mrroberts Posted February 17, 2010 Share Posted February 17, 2010 Two other Siegel films I really like: The Lineup with Eli Wallach and Madigan with Richard Widmark. Link to post Share on other sites
sineaste Posted February 21, 2010 Author Share Posted February 21, 2010 Invasion of the Body Snatchers is one of the best of the 1950s sci-fi films, with or without the possible red subtext. And while it's very different in subject matter from The Big Steal, it has a few similarities: A playful romance between the two stars, and the taut direction of the main action plots of both movies. I saw Siegel's version of The Killers many years ago and don't remember much about it, except that Lee Marvin was one mean dude. Would be great to see it again, but it doesn't seem to show up on TCM too often that I can recall. Link to post Share on other sites
FredCDobbs Posted February 21, 2010 Share Posted February 21, 2010 A couple of years ago, I saw a film on TCM titled ?The Captive City? (1952). It was about a newspaper reporter in a small town who learned that there was some organized crime group in his town that was controlling some of the businessmen and the police department. Some old private investigator first learned about it and told the reporter. When the private investigator later was killed by a hit and run driver, the reporter began investigating and asking questions around town, and soon he found that the local police were following him and spying on him. This movie gradually unfolded very much like ?Invasion of the Body Snatchers?. So much so, that I would bet that the Body Snatchers writers and director studied this film. Even the ending was very similar, and the ending started out first, then the film went to flashbacks, just like in Body Snatchers. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0044476/#comment Link to post Share on other sites
sineaste Posted February 21, 2010 Author Share Posted February 21, 2010 Don't think I've ever seen The Captive City, but it sounds like a neat little movie in its own right. Since The Invasion of the Body Snatchers was based on a story by Jack Finney which first appeared in Collier's magazine in 1954, I guess it's possible he could have seen the movie and copied it, but that doesn't sound very likely. It's also possible that Siegel saw the movie, and used it, though he already had a script. That seems like a stretch. Perhaps the most plausible connection is that Siegel saw the movie and unconsciously used some small bits of it, but even that's just speculation. I'll have to look out for The Captive City and make up my own mind. Link to post Share on other sites
HollywoodGolightly Posted February 21, 2010 Share Posted February 21, 2010 > {quote:title=sineaste wrote:}{quote} > Perhaps the most plausible connection is that Siegel saw the movie and unconsciously used some small bits of it, but even that's just speculation. I'll have to look out for The Captive City and make up my own mind. That does tend to happen sometimes in the business. Link to post Share on other sites
sineaste Posted February 22, 2010 Author Share Posted February 22, 2010 Yes, there have always been "borrowings" in the movie biz, some unconscious and others not quite so. I don't see much evidence for either type in this specific case, though it does give one an additional reason to catch The Captive City. Link to post Share on other sites
FredCDobbs Posted February 22, 2010 Share Posted February 22, 2010 > {quote:title=sineaste wrote:}{quote} > I don't see much evidence for either type in this specific case, That's because you haven't seen "Captive City" yet. Link to post Share on other sites
sineaste Posted February 22, 2010 Author Share Posted February 22, 2010 That could be. The general plot lines don't sound any more coincidental than usual, but the best way is to watch The Captive City and see for oneself. Hope it will show up soon on TCM, and not at 4 am either. Link to post Share on other sites
HollywoodGolightly Posted February 22, 2010 Share Posted February 22, 2010 If it shows up at 4am, don't worry, I'll record it for you and send you the tape. Link to post Share on other sites
sineaste Posted February 22, 2010 Author Share Posted February 22, 2010 Well, that's very kind of you. Then I'll get a tape of IOTBS, move the two TVs together and watch them side by side, and finally get to the bottom of this puzzle. Link to post Share on other sites
HollywoodGolightly Posted February 22, 2010 Share Posted February 22, 2010 It sounds like a fun way to compare movies side-by-side. Link to post Share on other sites
sineaste Posted February 22, 2010 Author Share Posted February 22, 2010 I don't know if I'd want to make a habit out of it though. Now I bet it won't be on TCM for a long time, and there'll probably be another version of IOTBS out by then. Link to post Share on other sites
HollywoodGolightly Posted February 22, 2010 Share Posted February 22, 2010 Yes, there seems to be a new version of IOTBS practically every time you blink. Link to post Share on other sites
FredCDobbs Posted February 26, 2010 Share Posted February 26, 2010 Here is the original Colliers article of "The Body Snatchers", 1954. The movie was organized differently, such as starting near the end and telling the story in flashbacks. http://homepage.mac.com/cssfan/jackfinney/col541126026.htm Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now