The Big Steal

As a team, Robert Mitchum and Jane Greer are pretty well-known, at least to classic film fans, for their pairing in "Out Of The Past," but I thought they were a lot more fun to watch in this particular film noir.

This movie, still not available on tape or disc for some reason, is almost one long chase scene, with people in three vehicles all on the move....with a neat twist at the end.

There is the typical 1940s budding romance in which the two parties do nothing with insult each other until the end. Sometimes that gets really old but in here it isn't, maybe because Greer has so many good lines.

It's also fun to see the old cars racing around hairpin curves, although the special effects are really dated. The fight scenes didn't look too realistic, either. Hey, I didn't say it was technically a great movie.....just a fun one to watch. Equally entertaining were two of the other people in on the chases: William Bendix and Patric Knowles.

A rogue's runaway with the cash, a payroll, there's quite a backlash, Duke Halliday's on the hook, accusations that he took, ran away with the wages in a flash. There's Joan who's been conned by Jim Fiske, a fiancé she thought had no risk, but he's off with her cash, her hard earned saved stash, his escape is increasingly brisk. Captain Blake's on the tail of them all, along tracks, along trails he trawls, a man on a mission, with a mean disposition, intent on recovering the haul.

I's entertaining fayre, with a chase around the highways and byways of Mexico, with the delightful Jane Greer stealing the show.

The Big Steal is directed by Don Siegel and adapted by Gerald Drayson Adams & Daniel Mainwaring from the short story "The Road to Carmichael's" written by Richard Wormser. It stars Robert Mitchum, Jane Greer, William Bendix, Patric Knowles & Ramon Novarro. Music is by Leigh Harline and the cinematographer is Harry J. Wild.

U.S. Army Lieutenant Duke Halliday (Mitchum) is robbed of a $300,000 payroll and pursues the man responsible into Mexico. But on his tail is Captain Vincent Blake (Bendix), who suspects him of being behind the robbery himself. Meeting up with Joan Graham (Greer), it turns out that she too has an agenda with the man Duke is after. Originally suspicious of each other, the duo form an uneasy alliance in the hope of achieving their aims.

At just 71 minutes in length The Big Steal is a briskly put together movie, one that is sharply scripted, acted accordingly and directed without fuss or filler. Lensed on location in and around Mexico City to add authenticity, it gets straight into its plot from the get go. This at first gives a slight feeling of confusion, but it's not before long when the narrative pulls together and the audience can sit back and lap up the various twists, turns and choice dialogue exchanges. More comedy crime caper than film noir stinger, The Big Steal is an enjoyable enough experience. 6.5/10

This above average crime drama holds one's interest due to good writing, excellent cinematography, and Robert Mitchum. The film must have been subsidized by the Mexican Tourist Bureau, so fetching are the scenes of the Mexican countryside. Ramon Novarro is excellent as the craftily sly police chief, and Willima Bendix puts in a good turn. Worth watching.

'The Big Steal' sees Robert Mitchum and Jane Greer team up again after their earlier Noir classic 'Out Of The Past', which is still one of the greatest Film Noirs ever made. 'The Big Steal' isn't as good, that's a fact, but it's a very different kind of movie, and comparing the two is a bit unfair. It's much lighter in tone and approach. Still Mitchum and Greer make a great team and it's a pity they didn't work together more. Director Don Siegel went on to make 'Invasion Of The Body Snatchers', 'The Killers' and 'Dirty Harry', all great favourites of mine, but 'The Big Steal' is just as good and is not to be overlooked. It's a great piece of entertainment and also features a very good performance by William Bendix, who I also really enjoyed in Hitchcock's underrated 'Lifeboat'. Forget about 'Out Of The Past' and just enjoy 'The Big Steal' for what it is, a thriller that is a great fun film.