Jerry McKibbon est un journaliste dur à cuire, qui aide le procureur spécial John Conroy à débusquer les fonctionnaires corrompus de la ville, dont le père de Conroy, lui-même inspecteur de ... Tout lireJerry McKibbon est un journaliste dur à cuire, qui aide le procureur spécial John Conroy à débusquer les fonctionnaires corrompus de la ville, dont le père de Conroy, lui-même inspecteur de police, pourrait être suspecté.Jerry McKibbon est un journaliste dur à cuire, qui aide le procureur spécial John Conroy à débusquer les fonctionnaires corrompus de la ville, dont le père de Conroy, lui-même inspecteur de police, pourrait être suspecté.
- Réalisation
- Scénario
- Casting principal
- Roy Ackerman
- (as Dan Dayton)
- Sammy Lester
- (non crédité)
- Girl
- (non crédité)
- Committee Member
- (non crédité)
- Boy
- (non crédité)
- Monty LaRue
- (non crédité)
- Buck
- (non crédité)
Avis à la une
The two biggest pluses are an expert cast, right down to lethally skinny Danny Dayton (Roy) and unforgettable heavy Neville Brand (Red). While dual leads, Holden and O'Brien, low-key their parts effectively. Together, the cast makes the material more plausible than it should be. Second, are the tacky LA locations, from Olympic boxing arena, to skid row, to beloved Angel's Flight tram. The seedy backgrounds also lend a patina of urban realism. Highlights include Red figuring out a catwalk above a fight arena, and the brutal blowing up of Arco's office showing the cruel reality behind Eichelberger's smooth exterior. And catch that surprise ending I didn't see coming.
I expect the b&w film was out of step with the Technicolor extravaganzas Hollywood was turning to at the time. The noirish parts especially have a 40's feel to them. Note early clunky appearance of that upstart menace TV, then making inroads into theatre attendance. Too bad this generous slice of professionalism likely got lost in the mix. It may not be one of Holden's better-known films. Nonetheless, the strong points make the 85-minutes worth catching up with.
Based on a Horace McCoy story, this is a fine, complex noir feature rooted in the events of its time. William Dieterle directs with his usual sure hand, pulling out fine performances. Although Lionel Lindon's photography is not as dark as some noirs, he shoots all of the standard LA noir spots except the Bradbury Building, and his shadows, particularly in the climactic Olympic Stadium sequence, are as dark as any.
Idealistic young attorney Edmond O'Brien is put in charge of a local Kefauver like group with prosecutorial powers to go after the syndicate that operates in this unnamed midwest American city. He's the son of veteran police detective Tom Tully and he asks his father to help him in his investigation. Also helping out are Alexis Smith functioning as the commission secretary and a cynical William Holden who is a long time friend of O'Brien's and newspaper reporter.
The syndicate is headed by Ed Begley, his number two is his enforcer Ted DeCorsia and he's got a hotheaded torpedo on the payroll in Danny Dayton. This crime syndicate has its hooks in pretty deep and watching the film you see why they are always one step ahead of the investigating commission.
The Turning Point fits right in with Bill Holden's post Sunset Boulevard tough and cynical image. That would reach its apogee when next year Holden would win an Oscar for the ultimate cynic in Stalag 17.
The rest of the cast performs well in roles that fit them admirably. Some you will remember are Neville Brand as an out of town torpedo who has few words, but an aura of menace, Carolyn Jones in her film debut as a Virginia Hill type witness who performs on stand the way Judy Holliday did in the House Un-American Activities Committee as the dumb moll. But the performance that really stands out is that of Adele Longmire who is the wife of another torpedo who was doublecrossed and killed after a hit he performed. She is really a standout in her scenes as a frightened witness trying to flee the mob.
The Turning Point is a good noir drama that holds up very well today and is even relevant with some of the big name prosecutions of more recent vintage.
Le saviez-vous
- AnecdotesInspired by the U.S. Senate's Committee to Investigate Organized Crime, also known as the Kefauver Committee, headed by Senator Estes Kefauver, which was active 1950 to 1951.
- GaffesAt about 35 min the shadow of the camera rig moves over William Holden.
- Citations
Amanda Waycross: Isn't it a tragic thing if the people all over this nation can be told that a man like Eichelberger can tear a man like you apart with his dirty fingers. What are we coming to Johnny, when a man like that can do this to all of us?
- ConnexionsReferenced in Biography: Carolyn Jones: Morticia and More (2002)
Meilleurs choix
- How long is The Turning Point?Alimenté par Alexa
Détails
- Date de sortie
- Pays d’origine
- Sites officiels
- Langue
- Aussi connu sous le nom de
- The Turning Point
- Lieux de tournage
- Sunshine Apartments - 421 West 3rd Street, Bunker Hill, Downtown, Los Angeles, Californie, États-Unis(Mrs. Manzinates apartment building)
- Société de production
- Voir plus de crédits d'entreprise sur IMDbPro
- Durée1 heure 25 minutes
- Couleur
- Rapport de forme
- 1.37 : 1