"Raw Deal" was independent film made in 1948 by producer Edward Small. It is an excellent example of the "film-noire" genre that was popular in the forties and early 50s. It is filmed in black and white amidst the dark shadows and special lighting that characterized these films and in this case, most of the story takes place at night. It is skillfully directed by the soon to be famous Anthony Mann who went on to make a series of realistic and violent westerns with James Stewart in the fifties. Although the film runs a scant 78 minutes, it manages to tell its story and hold the viewer's interest throughout.
Dennis O'Keefe stars as a convict who's escape is engineered by the crime boss (Raymond Burr) who had set him up for the fall in the first place, with the hope that O'Keefe wiil be killed in the escape attempt. Of course, he does escape and sets out to seek his revenge. O'Keefe's anti-hero really has no redeeming qualities. At one point he is poised to shoot down a forest ranger in cold blood.
Claire Trevor is excellent as O'Keefe's long suffering moll who hopes to get him out of the country and eventually marry him. It is a role similar to the one for which she would win the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for "Key Largo" the same year. Marsha Hunt is the third side to the triangle as the good girl who wants O'Keefe to give himself up.
Burr is particularly sadistic as the crime boss who fears for his life. At one point he throws a flaming pan onto a girl who has displeased him. John Ireland is along as Burr's hitman who gets into an exciting fight with O'Keefe in a darkened storeroom.
"Raw Deal" is a good movie that didn't get the praise it deserved.
Dennis O'Keefe stars as a convict who's escape is engineered by the crime boss (Raymond Burr) who had set him up for the fall in the first place, with the hope that O'Keefe wiil be killed in the escape attempt. Of course, he does escape and sets out to seek his revenge. O'Keefe's anti-hero really has no redeeming qualities. At one point he is poised to shoot down a forest ranger in cold blood.
Claire Trevor is excellent as O'Keefe's long suffering moll who hopes to get him out of the country and eventually marry him. It is a role similar to the one for which she would win the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for "Key Largo" the same year. Marsha Hunt is the third side to the triangle as the good girl who wants O'Keefe to give himself up.
Burr is particularly sadistic as the crime boss who fears for his life. At one point he throws a flaming pan onto a girl who has displeased him. John Ireland is along as Burr's hitman who gets into an exciting fight with O'Keefe in a darkened storeroom.
"Raw Deal" is a good movie that didn't get the praise it deserved.