I Was a Shoplifter

Or at least the only film noir in movie history speaking of shoplifting and not bank robbers, drug traffic, racketeers., pimps. The story itself is very easy and predictable to follow, not that unusual on the scheme itself. It is a rare film to catch and directed by Charles Lamont, not used to crime, film noirs, or some lousy ones in the thirties, but more comedy movies, light hearted dramas, such as the Abott and Costello series, or ven FRANCIS the talking mule. Useless to say that Charles Lamont was not a great director, but a prolific one, providing rare gems, which some are available on you tube. Not a bad little movie, I repeat, because of the shoplifting element. It could have been question of folks stealing gasoline in car tanks on parking lots. Why not? Another cute crime film speaking of shoplifting before Andrew Stone's CONFIDENCE GIRL.

The 25 year old Tony Curtis went on to act alongside Rock Hudson and James Stewart in films like 'Winchester 73' and 'I Was A Shoplifter' in 1950. Although this film was dull, Curtis was part of a stock of actors whose close friends included Hudson and Stewart.

How about, "I became a Hollywood has been in five films or less."

Andrea King and Scott Brady were up and coming stars after World War II. By 1950, Brady was on the booze and it showed. No more A features for him. I don't think Hollywood knew what to do with Andrea King. She ended up on Dragnet 1969 in a turban.

Mona Freeman did nothing but play put upon whiners. When she is listed among the cast you know it is going to be a Stinker.

You are never clear about how their racket is run and you stop caring.

Look out for small roles by Tony Curtis and Rock Hudson during their Universal International starlet days paying their dues on the casting chair.

At the end of I WAS A SHOPLIFTER, manipulative brunette crime-syndicate moll Andrea King tells undercover cop Scott Brady that it's too bad he is what he is, right as he's arresting her.. .

Because no matter how great poor little cute-rich-blonde Mona Freeman is with the handsome Brady, helping her out of a crime-ring after being caught thrill-lifting on her own.. he's exceptionally cool and smooth with Andrea, and they would have truly made a fantastic villainous team...

Instead she's saddled with more of a rogue wild card in non-famous whipper-snapper Tony Curtis, flashing a threatening blade at the gorgeous Mona Freeman to remain with this mobile den of thieves... all keeping their operation moving forward without realizing how close the law's moving in...

Overall part film noir, part throwback-gangster and part mainstream action-thriller, director Charles Lamont's I WAS A SHOPLIFTER is a nifty character-driven ride despite the campy, novelty-style title.

Universal released this weak crime movie, very low on entertainment content. It's portrayed as one of those "true stories", as phony as any random Hollywood product.

Mona Freeman stars as the winsome kleptomaniac, whose dad is a judge. She gets caught shoplifting and then gets blackmailed by sleazy criminals led by Andrea King, okay as a femme fatale.

Nearly all the roles are stereotypes, including Scott Brady in the lead role posing as a professional shoplifter. From the Universal stable of young talent, Tony Curtis is prominently featured as Pepe, a one-dimensional lady's man and creep. The Rock Hudson bit part is just that, a nothing assignment.

Directed by untalented comedy director Charles Lamont, whose career dated back to Silent Era short films and ended up with the "Mickey Mouse Club".