1959 • dir Robert Wise w/Harry Belafonte, Robert Ryan, Gloria Grahame, Shelley Winters, Ed Begley • 96 min • 35mm
One of the tersest, tensest heist movies ever made is also an angry (and still timely) riff on race relations in America, predating the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s. A trio of desperate men (Belafonte, Ryan and Begley) plan a last-ditch bank robbery in upstate New York. But Ryan’s bigotry and Belafonte’s take-no-prisoners pride keeps the tension simmering – leading to an explosive climax. Wise’s direction is crisp and cutting edge – a huge inspiration to French noir master Jean-Pierre Melville. Gloria Grahame and Shelley Winters offer kinky and melancholy support, respectively. A late-cycle film noir masterpiece, highlighted by an inventive score from John Lewis and the Modern Jazz Quartet.
Brattle passes accepted. Special, Usher, and Producer members may reserve seats in advance [instructions]. Regular & Dual Members may redeem passes at the box office pending availability.
Repertory Series Archive • Noir City: Boston 2019
Odds Against Tomorrow
Eddie Muller in Person!
NOIR CITY: BOSTON 2019
Double Feature with BLAST OF SILENCE (9:30)
1959 • dir Robert Wise w/Harry Belafonte, Robert Ryan, Gloria Grahame, Shelley Winters, Ed Begley • 96 min • 35mm
One of the tersest, tensest heist movies ever made is also an angry (and still timely) riff on race relations in America, predating the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s. A trio of desperate men (Belafonte, Ryan and Begley) plan a last-ditch bank robbery in upstate New York. But Ryan’s bigotry and Belafonte’s take-no-prisoners pride keeps the tension simmering – leading to an explosive climax. Wise’s direction is crisp and cutting edge – a huge inspiration to French noir master Jean-Pierre Melville. Gloria Grahame and Shelley Winters offer kinky and melancholy support, respectively. A late-cycle film noir masterpiece, highlighted by an inventive score from John Lewis and the Modern Jazz Quartet.