La mano invisibile

"Time Table" is a rather forgotten crime film which was directed by and stars Mark Stevens—a very capable but mostly forgotten actor from the 50s and 60s. It's really a shame the film isn't seen and lauded, as it's quite good—especially since it has a very modest budget. I've never seen it on TV nor DVD but fortunately it IS in the public domain and is therefore available through archive.org—a website often linked to films on IMDb. Download a free copy and watch it—it's quite good.

The film starts off wonderfully—with one of the most intelligently filmed heists I can remember. You really need to see it—and I don't want to spoil it by saying more about this. In the next scene, a couple are talking about their upcoming and much-needed vacation to Mexico when the phone rings—the husband (Stevens) is needed at once. It seems he's an investigator for the insurance company covering the heist—and they want him to look into it ASAP. This means the vacation is on hold.

When the investigation begins, it's quite obvious that the crime was very, very professional and was carried out with attention to every detail. However, during the robbery, somehow one of the gang was injured—and this might be the lead they need to break the case. But, in a WONDERFUL twist, the audience soon learns that there is so much more to the story than anyone has anticipated and the identity of the big brains of the operation is quite the surprise. I'd say more but don't want to spoil it.

Some might consider this film to be an example of Film Noir. Well, it is a crime film from the 1950s and is pretty unflinchingly violent in places. However, the film lacks the snappy dialog and cinematography you'd expect for Noir. I personally like the way the movie was handled, as it seemed more realistic than Noir—like you were watching a real investigation unfold. Fascinating throughout.

The Quick Pitch: $500,000 in cash is stolen from a train's baggage car.

Not a lot to say other than that this is a good one. My little plot summary may be shorter than usual, but I don't want to spoil anything. Time Table has a couple of plot twists that are about as good as any I've seen. The first comes early on in the film. While I may have had an inkling of what was about to happen, I still enjoyed watching the events unfold. But the second twist caught me by complete surprise. What fun!

Time Table is one of those films that proves you can (or at least you could in 1956) make a quality little movie without breaking the bank. Given budgetary constraints, director Mark Stevens created a tense, atmospheric crime/noir/thriller that moves at a brisk pace and is entertaining throughout. Not only does Stevens direct, but he also stars in Time Table. His performance is just as solid as his direction. The mostly no-name supporting cast is equal to the challenge. I'm sure I could pick a few things to complain about, but why bother when a movie is this enjoyable.

7/10

I seen many bad reviews for this film and I just do not get it. I love it, it may not be the greatest film ever made but I love it. It is cheesy and I am okay with that. If you watch it without being overly critical it is a fun watch. It has its twists and turns which keep you interested. The plot is pretty decent and for the time original. If you like this genre of film you should really enjoy this one. Mark Stevens does a credible job as the lead and it is the earliest film I believe I saw Jack Klugman in. Ignore the nay sayers and give it go it may not be the best film you have seen but it will keep you entertained and in the end that is all a film is supposed to do. Yes there are some issues with the film but it was not a big budget movie and they do a brilliant job with what they are given. Try it, you won't regret it.

This is a neat, no-frills thriller about an intricately planned train heist, the turbulent insurance investigator assigned to the case, and his hard-nosed boss whose motto is "There's no such thing as a perfect crime." Filmed in the flat, greyish TV style of the 50s with occasional expressionist touches, it is rife with plot twists and intriguing characters, and features a supporting cast of familiar faces (Alan Reed, Jack Klugman, etc). It should appeal to those who prefer story over stylishness. Tough-guy Stevens starred in several top-notch noirs of the 40s, and directed a couple of good second-feature thrillers in the 50s, including Cry Vengeance.

Mark Stevens was a terrific film noir actor, reminding me of William Holden, but never an A-lister. This excellent movie that he made as producer, director and star for United Artists has the precision and impact of a Kubrick movie, and still packs a wallop 70 years after it was made.

The ingenious plotting and structure is different from the usual caper or trackdown movie, with enough twists and turns to keep me constantly guessing, and guessing wrong. The power of real B movies from the '40s and '50s is the tight characterizations, and what a treat to see John Marley a decade or so before his rise to prominence as such a distinctive character actor for Cassavetes and Coppola -here a great supporting role as one of the doomed criminals. Similarly, Jack Klugman is just right as a poor slob being interrogated.

The talent of Stevens on view here makes it such a shame that his career as a filmmaker didn't flourish -reminds me of my favorite character actor of the next generation, Steve Ihnat, who worked with Robert Duvall early in their careers but died young after only directing a couple of movies.