I Walk Alone (1947)

Slow pace in the most part of the movie.

Don't listen to the negative reviews

The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.

Copyright 29 July 1947 by Hal Wallis Productions, Inc. Released through Paramount Pictures. New York opening at the Paramount: 21 January 1948. U.S. release: 16 January 1948. U.K. release: 19 January 1948. Australian release: 18 March 1948. Sydney opening at the Prince Edward: 5 March 1948 (ran three weeks). 8,771 feet. 97 minutes.SYNOPSIS: After serving time in jail, Frankie Madison demands a half-share in a nightclub from his old partner, Noll Turner.NOTES: The stage play opened on Broadway at the Coronet on 27 October 1945, closing after only 25 performances. Paul Kelly had the Burt Lancaster part, while Luther Adler played the heavy. Also cast: Dorothy Comingore, Adrienne Ames, Herbert Berghof, Tom Pedi, George Mathews, E.G. Marshall and Arthur Hunnicutt. Oscar Serlin produced, Harold Clurman directed. COMMENT: The writers have come up with a few fascinating new angles on the classic convict-seeks-revenge plot, turning what could have been merely another gangster story into an engrossing film noir that rivets the attention from start to finish. The sharp dialogue and zesty characterizations of the play have been fleshed out by superlative performances all around. Lancaster is exactly right as the bitter ex-con, an innocent in a now-too-sophisticated world of shady finance. His nemesis is powerfully represented by Kirk Douglas, here reprising his ruthless heavy from Out of the Past. Although she has unjustly copped a fair amount of downgrading from jealous critics, sultry Lizabeth Scott is at her most stylishly convincing best as the put-upon heroine. Also compelling are wonderfully glum-faced Wendell Corey as the harassed accountant who cooks Douglas's books, and George Rigaud as the schemer's confidant. Good to see George in a decent-sized role for once.Other appealing contributors include Kristine Miller as a socialite with a yen for low life; Marc Lawrence as Burt's sympathetic pal (for a switch, Marc is operating on the right side here, even if still on the shady ledger of the law); Mike Mazurki as the doorman-bouncer, also sympathetic to the hero's plight, but nonetheless loyal to his current employer. Mike, in his best role since Moose Malloy, enjoys some of the script's best lines: "Did you see that right hook he caught me with? I always liked the guy. Fifteen years ago, he was the greatest!" The movie is nothing if not superbly lit. The visuals are often quite excitingly photographed and composed. In fact, as usual with Hal Wallis productions, production values are first-class, with really outstanding technical credits, including the appealing seats, attractive costumes, and one of Victor Young's most lovely scores.OTHER VIEWS: This one was written by "George Addison", a pseudonym I used years ago for various newspapers and magazines. My opinions may have changed in the meantime, but the review was valid when it was written and deserves to be reprinted. In fact, I've had people write to me that they preferred George Addison's insights to my own! Like Casablanca, here's another excellent example of an unsuccessful stage play translated into an outstanding movie. And like Casablanca, the credit belongs mainly to producer Hal Wallis who saw potential in the original property and then oversaw its repackaging as a film. In this case, he even persuaded Byron Haskin to resume directing after a break of twenty years in special effects. Haskin has induced solid performances not only from the principals and co-stars but even from minor players like Mickey Knox as the abrasive Skinner and Olin Howlin in a brief bit as a night-watchman. (And is that former cowboy star Jack Perrin in a silent walk-on as the cop who looks over the parked taxi?)The screenplay incorporates several unusual elements for a film noir. Involved corporate structures, designed to freeze out the Lancaster character, successfully defeat his quest for vengeance. But the ex-con is also sidetracked by a heavy romantic entanglement with a voluptuous but increasingly sympathetic siren. The conventional roles of vulnerably innocent heroine and sexy femme fatale are here skillfully rolled into one. It says much for Lizabeth Scott's utterly convincing portrayal that her playing of this difficult, complicated role never once falters or strikes a single wrong note.In addition to its proud ensemble acting, I Walk Alone also benefits from masterfully realized sets, costumes, lighting and music scoring. This is a film with atmosphere. In spades.

I Walk Alone (1948) ** 1/2 (out of 4)Frankie Madison (Burt Lancaster) gets out of prison after fourteen years and heads to see his old partner Dink Turner (Kirk Douglas). The two men made an agreement when Frankie took the wrap that they'd split everything down the middle while he was in prison but once on the outside he realizes that Turner has double crossed him. Broke and without any hopes for the future, Frankie must get his revenge. There are some terrific performances to be found here but sadly the end results aren't nearly as good as one would hope for thanks in large part to a screenplay that is just way too predictable for its own good. The story itself really isn't anything original and it doesn't take long for you to realize that Lancaster isn't going to be getting what's coming to him and the film takes way too long for this obvious set-up to take place. Once the double cross actually happens things start to pick up but once again you're one step ahead of the characters as none of them ever really see what's going to happen and after a while you start to realize that they're all rather stupid. This is especially true during the ending, which I won't ruin. I will say there's something Douglas does, which is just so silly that you can't help believe the two characters he does it to would be that dumb. With that said, the film is still worth seeing thanks in large part to the terrific cast. There are many legendary actor-actor combos throughout film history but one of my favorites has always been Lancaster and Douglas. It's somewhat shocking to me that their films aren't better respected than they are but this was the first of seven films they made together and that terrific chemistry is on display here. It's rather amazing to see how well they play off one another in their film film but Lancaster was always terrific at playing the wronged tough guy and Douglas is just so snake like that you can't help but love to hate him. Lizabeth Scott is good in her role as the woman in love with Douglas but who quickly starts to fall for Lancaster. There's no question that the director wanted her to "act" like Lauren Bacall but it works well. Wendell Corey is also very good in his role. I WALK ALONE is part noir and part thriller and fans of those two genres will probably want to check it out. The terrific performances make it a film worth watching but it's a shame the screenplay didn't do a better job with the characters.

The friendship of Frankie Madison and Noll "Dink" Turner was solid during the prohibition era of the country. They had a good scheme going until Frankie is caught with the goods he is bringing to their speakeasy in Manhattan. Madison has to serve fourteen years for the crime. When he is released from prison, Dave , a mutual friend who now works for Turner is sent to meet the ex-con and help him settle down.Frankie, who wants to be paid for the time he spent in jail, has a lot to square away with his former friend. Madison is taken aback when he goes to pay a visit to Dink's new club. Not only is it posh, it caters to a high class crowd! In the club he meets two ladies, one the headliner, Kay Lawrence, who is involved with Turner, and Mrs. Richarson, a high society type. Turner wants to use Kay to pump information from Madison, but he soon discovers the duplicity, but in reality, the singer's heart is not into betraying Frankie, who she seems to have taken a liking to. On the other hand, Mrs. Richardson can't get her hands on this new arrival the way she has gotten away with Dink.Dink feels threatened by Madison's arrival into the scene. When they have an argument about the money owed to Frankie, Dink has a plan to get rid of his friend. Dave, the accountant, who has been called to explain to Madison the intricacies of the corporation that owns the club, sees what Dink is trying to do. Frankie Madison gets a chance to get what is due to him. He also gets to keep the gorgeous Kay! "I Walk Alone", directed by Byron Haskin, is a good example of those films that came out after WWII. It's worth a look because of the marvelous cast assembled to appear in it. "I Walk Alone" marks the first time Burt Lancaster and Kirk Douglas appeared together in movies. Although the top billing is given to Wendell Corey, he has little to do in it. The husky-voiced Lizabeth Scott plays the sultry Kay Lawrence with her usual flair. She is beautifully dressed by Edith Head.Victor Young's musical score and Leo Tover's cinematography contribute to the overall success of this movie.

I just saw this film two nights ago at the San Francisco Film Noir Festival. This was a beautiful movie filled with subtle shades of noir. The underrated Lizbeth Scott has the best performance in this rarely seen drama. There's great snappy dialog. Kirk Douglas is the perfect villain of this clever movie. It is so easy to see his son Michael's face on him. Burt was fun to watch as usual in giving his best to this intriguing screenplay. What was interesting to see unfold (in this almost 60 year old film) was how challenging the crime corporations are in pinpointing the vastness of what exactly they own. How they get around the skimming of the profits. As well as stating that they only "get" a minimal amount of the percentages ~ by the books. There was a lot of thought that went into this film and the three stars gave it their best. Pure quality.