Un ancien détenu qui essaie de rester sur le droit chemin est accusé d'un vol de voiture blindée d'un million de dollars et doit se rendre au Mexique afin de démasquer les véritables coupabl... Tout lireUn ancien détenu qui essaie de rester sur le droit chemin est accusé d'un vol de voiture blindée d'un million de dollars et doit se rendre au Mexique afin de démasquer les véritables coupables.Un ancien détenu qui essaie de rester sur le droit chemin est accusé d'un vol de voiture blindée d'un million de dollars et doit se rendre au Mexique afin de démasquer les véritables coupables.
- Réalisation
- Scénario
- Casting principal
- Porter
- (non crédité)
- Prisoner
- (non crédité)
- Robbery Spectator
- (non crédité)
- Player
- (non crédité)
- Detective Barney
- (non crédité)
- Airline Clerk
- (non crédité)
Avis à la une
"In the police annals of Kansas City are written lurid chapters concerning the exploits of criminals apprehended and brought to punishment. But it is the purpose of this picture to expose the amazing operations of a man who conceived and executed a "perfect" crime, the true solution of which is "not" entered in "any" case history, and could well be entitled "Kansas City Confidential".
Produced by Edward Small, Kansas City Confidential is believed to be the only film released out of Small's own Associated Players and Producers studio. Still, if you are going to only have one film on your studio résumé, you have to be thankful that it's a little cracker. More "B" movie grit than film noir flecked nastiness, Karlson's movie is lean, mean and structured with knowing skill by the director. From the tremendous tension fuelled opening of the heist planning and execution, through to the deadly payoff at the finale, film is awash with knuckle slappings, shifting identities and the turning of the protagonist's psychological make up. Were it not for one of "those" endings, and the telegraphing of optimism slightly shunting the pessimistic atmosphere out of the headlights, this would undoubtedly be far more revered and better known in film noir/crime movie circles.
First thing to note of worth is the cast assembled for the picture. Payne was already leaving behind his formative acting years in family fare like Miracle On 34th Street and Footlight Serenade, reinventing himself as a dramatic actor in films such as The Crooked Way. He's a perfect fit for Joe Rolfe, an ex-con war veteran down on his luck, he has his every man qualities pummelled out of him by the police, so much so he has to turn bad to prove that he's good. The change is believable in Payne's hands, his face that of normality in the beginning, but latterly icy cold and untrustworthy. A trio of "B" movie stalwarts make up the thugs gallery, Jack Elam is sweaty and worm like, Lee Van Cleef is snake faced and pulsing bad attitude, while Neville Brand exudes borderline psychotic menace. Unfortunately Preston Foster as the "boss" man is not altogether convincing, but in a film where characters are not always what they seem, this doesn't hurt the film.
Coleen Gray shows a nice pair of legs for the boys, but with Karlson not bothered about fleshing out the romantic and flirting aspects of her relationship with Payne, she exists only as a secondary cog between Payne and Foster's characters. This is no femme fatale character, sadly, no sir. Music is standard fare and Diskant's photography only fleetingly shows some noir flourishes. However, with two fists full of grit from which to punch, and some boldness in the narrative involving police brutality, Kansas City Confidential comes out as one of the better "B" ranked crime movies of the 50's. 8/10
John Payne and Preston Foster turn in first-rate jobs despite the drop in class to a "B", and Lee Van Cleef and Jack Elam are in top form as 'bad guys'.Colleen Gray is lovely but adds 20 minutes to the proceedings as the love interest - and the picture really didn't need a love interest or 20 extra minutes. Overall, a very good effort well worth seeing.
Le saviez-vous
- AnecdotesJohn Payne broke some of Jack Elam's ribs in a fight scene.
- GaffesWhen approaching the bank for the heist, a mountain is clearly seen in the background. Kansas City is in the plains and has no mountains.
- Citations
Scott Andrews: [Speaking about Rolfe] ... left school to enlist with the engineers. Pretty good soldier too! Bronze Star, Purple Heart!
Joe Rolfe: Try and buy a cup of coffee with them!
- Crédits fousOpening credits prologue: "In the police annals of Kansas City are written lurid chapters concerning the exploits of criminals apprehended and brought to punishment."
"But it is the purpose of this picture to expose the amazing operations of a man who conceived and executed a 'perfect crime,' the true solution of which is NOT entered in ANY case history, and could well be entitled 'Kansas City Confidential.'"
- ConnexionsEdited into Tep No & KT Tunstall: Heartbeat Bangs (2021)
- Bandes originalesLa Cucaracha
(uncredited)
Spanish Traditional
Sung by Tomaso as he delivers the mail
Meilleurs choix
- How long is Kansas City Confidential?Alimenté par Alexa
Détails
- Date de sortie
- Pays d’origine
- Langues
- Aussi connu sous le nom de
- Kansas City Confidential
- Lieux de tournage
- Two Harbors, Santa Catalina Island, Channel Islands, Californie, États-Unis(scenes in "Borados")
- Sociétés de production
- Voir plus de crédits d'entreprise sur IMDbPro
- Durée1 heure 39 minutes
- Couleur
- Rapport de forme
- 1.37 : 1