crimeonfilm.com – crime films and TV, mostly film noir

British Invasion: Boorman Uncorks Psychedelic Noir

Angie Dickinson, Lee Marvin and Carroll O’Connor in ‘Point Blank’ (1967). Why is L.A. the location of choice for so many crime films and stories about the dark side of life? Maybe it’s just because the bulk of all film production is done in Hollywood and it’s cheaper to shoot in your own backyard. But…
High Mass: Whitey Bulger, LSD and a Devil’s Deal

Johnny Depp as Whitey Bulger? Yup, the actor who played Dillinger in “Public Enemies” is going to play another crime icon, and the movie is slated for release next year. More about that later. Dick Lehr, a former Boston Globe reporter and co-author of a new book about the life of James “Whitey” Bulger was…
This Scarface is in Chicago, Not Miami

Living dangerously, Tony Camonte muscles in on his boss’s girlfriend. “Scarface” (1932) is one of the seminal American gangster films of the 1930s, along with “Little Caesar,” “The Roaring Twenties” and “The Public Enemy.” Each one tells the story of a gangster’s rise in the bootlegging business and his assent to the top of a powerful…
Whitey Not a Rat? Shelley Murphy on Whitey Bulger

The James “Whitey” Bulger saga continues, and here’s an interesting interview with reporter Shelley Murphy about the incarcerated 83 year old Boston mob boss. Check out Shelley’s accent — sounds like she’s right out of Southie. Shelley Murphy on Whitey Bulger – RadioBDC blog – Boston.com You may remember that Whitey was on the lam…
‘The Crimson Kimono’: Big Crime in Little Tokyo

Tawdry newspaper headlines bark out plot twists in ‘The Crimson Kimono’ (1959). Director, producer and writer Samuel Fuller photographs the streets of downtown L.A. stunningly in “The Crimson Kimono,“ a film that’s part mystery, part love triangle and part travelogue. We get to see the downtown exteriors, particularly Little Tokyo as it looked in 1959,…
Just Desserts for a Bad Apple

The Hoodlum (1951) Director: Max Nosseck Writer: Sam Neuman Stars: Lawrence Tierney, Allene Roberts and Marjorie Riordan See the full movie on YouTube, or rent it on DVD. Sometimes a rat gets what he deserves – it just takes a while. “The Hoodlum” begins documentary style with a rundown of anti-hero Vincent Lubeck’s dirty dealings.…
Crime Erupts Under the Streets of L.A.

Much of “He Walked by Night” is held together with the loose thread of documentary-style film-making. But those parts are no match or the last 20 minutes or so of the film that prowls the lower reaches of the city. Richard Basehart is the killer who terrorizes L.A. and can’t be stopped. Few have ever…
Scene of the Crime (Film) IV: Shock of Recognition

If you live in or visit Hollywood you can find lots of buildings used as film exteriors. You might be familiar with the address, such as 77 Sunset Strip, named after the 1950s-60s TV detective show set in Los Angeles, For the record, the building where they filmed the opening sequence and some exterior scenes…
Punks, Thugs Rule the City in ‘Crime Wave’

One of the better rediscovered crime films of the past few years is “Crime Wave.” Remember James Ellroy’s top 10 favorite crime films, which we discussed here a few posts ago? As you may remember, “Crime Wave” made the list, and for good reason. It should have come as no surprise when I got ahold…
Crime in the New Wild West

A lot of people say that “No Country for Old Men” is Joel and Ethan Coen’s best film so far. I’d find that a difficult choice to make. But I’ll say that “No Country” is one of my favorites. Javier Bardem has gotten all the kudos for his portrayal of devil incarnate Anton Chigurh —…