Film Noir Robbery

 (imdb)

ARMORED CAR ROBBERY-1950-Dave Purvis (William Talman) masterminds a hold up at LA's Wrigley Field with Al (Steve Brodie), Ace (uncredited Gene Evans) and Benny (Douglas Fowley) who hopes the money from the job will help him win back his ex-wife Yvonne (Adele Jurgens), a stripper now with Purvis. They botch it up and a policeman is killed. The slain officer's partner Lt. Cordell (Charles McGraw) vows to get the killers. 

Fast paced, cool little film noir directed by Richard Fleischer (son of animator Max). Also with Don Haggerty, James Flavin, Paul Bryar, Frank Scannell and Anne Nagel.

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Johnny & Ronny

FIVE MINUTES TO LIVE!-1961-Before he became "the man in black" and a country-western superstar, Johnny Cash made his film debut in this low budget melodrama. He plays psycho cop killer Johnny Cabot who is hired by a greasy hood (Vic Tayback, who narrates the tale) who hatches a plot to rob a bank by having the wife (Cay Forrester) of a bank VP (Donald Woods) held hostage in her home by Cabot. With this threat the VP is forced to hand over $70,000. The couple has martial problems (he wants to leave his wife for another woman) and their young son is played by future Academy Award winning director Ronny Howard (already a regular on TV's THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW). Cash is demented and sadistic while holding the wife hostage but does manager to croon the title theme once in a while.

Another country-western star Merle Travis (who co-wrote the theme with Cash) appears as Tayback's flunky. It's a weird little film with a interesting, funny climax involving Howard's character and a gabby neighbor (Pamela Mason). Director Bill Karn also made MA BARKER'S KILLER BROOD. Also called DOOR TO DOOR MANIAC.

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