Gary Dennis’ New York City Movie Place

I am not fond of top ten lists as they are too narrow in their scope, but these are a few that should be recorded from TCM or the Fox Movie Channel or ( I can’t believe that I am saying this) put into your Netflix of Blockbuster lists. Need more? Write me!

1) Out Of The Past

Robert Mitchum, Kirk Douglas and Jane Greer. The textbook film noir. Private dectective hired to find a gangster’s girlfriend and then fall for the gangster’s girlfriend

2) Maltese Falcon

Sam Spade private eye, a mysterious woman with a bogus case, a murdered partner and a jewel encrusted statue of a bird. Humphrey Bogart in one of the most important roles of his career. What else do you need.

3) Big Sleep

Humphrey Bogart as Philip Marlowe, Raymond Chandler’s private eye hero. Lauren Bacall exuding talent and sex. Dorothy Malone as a book shop clerk boys dream of. Some people say the plot doesn’t make sense or that it is a difficult picture to follow but with this cast, who cares.

4) Murder My Sweet or Farewell My Lovely

Dick Powell dropped his song and dance musical leading boy thing and got butch during WWII and stayed that way. The picture Murder My Sweet is proof. Philip Marlowe, a recently released from prison bank robber aptly named moose, his missing girlfiend and missing loot all mixed together.

Farewell My Lovely (the original title of the book upon which Murder My Sweet is based) was a later version staring Robert Mitchum as an older, tired Philip Marlowe. Of course I think it is just as good as Murder My Sweet.

5) Double Indemnity

The epitome of lust overtaking reason, guilible men and one of the most evil women characters ever created.

6) The Killers (1946)

Great text book film noir. Read the post and see what I mean.

7) Postman Always Rings Twice (1946)

It took 12 years alledgedly to adapt the book into a tame, by 1946 standards, screen play. Great chemistry between John Garfield and Lana Turner that borders on Bogart and Bacall.

Crossfire

The movie of the three Bob’s. Read the posting.

9) Naked City

A must see for all noir fans and all New Yorkers. Read the posting and see why.

10) Kiss Of Death (1947)

Career criminal tries to go straight and protect his family by taking a better deal offered by law enforcement than by his criminal cohorts. Victor Mature is great as the ex - con. Richard Widmark makes an Oscar nominated film debut. Great New York location shooting.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, November 20th, 2007 at 5:28 pm and is filed under Top Ten Lists. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.