Established in 1949 Vera Cruz studio was passing through by hard financial difficulties at its time when "Senda do Crime" was made, this ultimate effort didn't avoid the inevitable bankrupt in 1954 for several reasons which there is no point to talking about now, actually it was the first and unique Brazilian Noir ever, the plot summarized lies in a greedy guy Sergio (Miro Cerni) a wealthy banker's nephew, where he works there as merest employee, everything changes when his uncle's mansion had a failed attempt of robbery, the clumsy thieves had lost a lighter on crime scene, Sergio recovering it an thru a name and address engraved on the lighter he reaches on the gang, henceforth he becomes the leader, promising profitable burglaries due he got in advance substantial financial informations through his position on Bank over richest costumers.
As the first robbery is successful Sergio convinces the members of the gang about doesn't share the money by now due they will need a capital to allocate on upcoming thievery, thus he persuades them to put all money in a bank in name of Jurema (Cleyde Yáconis) a sister of one gang's member for security reasons, in fact he fooled them due the silly Jurema at once falling in love by the crook Sergio, so he easily has the money at his control, meanwhile has been another relationship with a night club singer Margot (Silvia Fernanda) who had a previous affair with a bleak older guy, such jealous man wondering how Sergio gave her a precious diamonds necklace, looking around figures out be a stolen property, he stealthily sent to police a photograph of both displaying the stolen necklace, now the police tracks down Sergio to reach in the gang.
Fabulous Brazilian Noir, many elements testifies such statement, the robbery, the scheming guy, the femme fatale, betrays, also the music score a huge resemblance with American Noir, the Italian director Flaminio Bollini Cerri made a true gem by Brazilian patten, often in comic oriented pictures, this also display the faster growth of São Paulo at its time, on several skyscrapers under construction, including the iconic 27 floors building "Viadutos" conceived by the famous architect Artacho where the final sequence took place, the finale had a panoramic view over a upcoming largest city in South America, rare street shooting as well, a true document of São Paulo on early fifties.
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First watch: 1985 / How many: 2 / Source: TV-Youtube / Rating: 8.
