The Steel Trap

I wish this movie was on VHS or DVD so I could enjoy it again. It is a nail-biting thriller, that doesn't resort to mindless violence to generate suspense. The acting is great, the plot unique and the action practically non-stop.

the steel trap, with joe cotten & teresa wright, that great duo from hitchcock's shadow of a doubt, is a never to be forgotten suspense film. cotten plays a bank officer who becomes obsessed with the notion of absconding with a million dollars and taking refuge in brazil (no extradition treaty). miss wright is perfect as his all too understanding wife who goes along with his preposterous explanations of what he is up to. everything goes wrong on get away day and the riveting climax leaves one sitting on the edge of his/her seat. i wish this film were available on video; i've seen it a few times, in '52 as a teen and once or twice on tv. at any rate, bravo, joe and teresa!!!

Written and directed by the more than capable Andrew L. Stone, this has been described by some as a 'noir' but actually contains none of the components associated with that particular genre. It is essentially a 'heist' movie in which Joseph Cotten's assistant bank manager is the complete antithesis of the criminal mastermind whilst his wife, played by Teresa Wright, is the film's moral compass. As with all films of its type the robbery itself goes pretty well to plan but the getaway proves more than somewhat problematic, to say the least.

Despite the innate implausibilty of the plot, the editing by Otto Ludwig maintains the momentum throughout whilst Dimitri Tiomkin's instantly recognisable chords and orchestration underline the tension.

An earlier reviewer has expressed the view that some might find it awkward watching Cotten and Wright playing husband and wife having previously seen them in 'Shadow of a Doubt' as uncle and niece, to which I would respond: It's called ACTING!

This is a medium budgeted, tight little drama starring Joseph Cotten in one of the favorite roles of film noir culture, that of a respectable member of society who is discontented and bored, which leads to trouble. It is also one of those rare films with featured elements which are implausible if not impossible yet still holds one's interest to the end without one saying, "Yeah, right." and changing the channel. In this case Cotton plays a long time employee of a bank who day dreams of how easy it would be to embezzle one million dollars from his bank over a weekend.

Cotten has a likable everyman quality about him, so as he decides one day to make his day dream become a reality it's easy for the audience to identify with him. Yes, he's breaking the law and by all the moral codes of society he is wrong to do so. Yet we can't help but root for him because of the intelligence and audacity that his character displays.

This film is quite suspenseful at times and tightly paced by director Andrew Stone. It's a short little 85 minute feature and doesn't waste any time in telling it's simple but involving tale, with all the unexpected complications that arise threatening to scuttle Cotten and his plans for a new life with all that loot.

Since The Steel Trap was made in the '50s when the Hollywood production code dictated that no film character can attempt such a plan without paying a price for it, I was pleasantly surprised at the film's resolution, which I found to be both unexpected and satisfying.

One more thing for film noir buffs. Visually The Steel Trap has none of the chiaroscuro lighting effects that we so love about '40s noirs. In fact, the visuals of this film are the least of its virtues. The emphasis is upon plot development and, increasingly as the film progresses, its pacing. The film also reunites Cotten with his Shadow of a Doubt co-star, Teresa Wright. Wright gives a lovely performance (the moral conscience of the film) as Cotten's wife who initially hasn't got a clue as to her husband's plans. Her character eventually turns out to play an important role in the flow of the narrative.

Joseph Cotten was a fine actor, capable of playing a smooth talking charming psychopath (Shadow of a Doubt) as well as personifying an everyman, as an earnest, slightly awkward leading man (The Third Man). He also gets my nomination as the actor who possibly appeared in more outstanding Hollywood productions during the 1940s than any other.

While The Steel Trap hardly rates among Cotten's best films, it does have something in common with the actor, that of being good, largely neglected and underrated.

The Steel Trap is a tense nail biter of a movie. A simple story and a great cast make you hope the good man gone wrong gets away with his crime. But this is film noir and nothing goes the way it should. Just saw this gem at the AFI/Silver during the DC Noir festival. The Film Noir Foundation showed the only known copy of this lost film - a homemade DVD. This film deserves finding and/or restoring. The locations are great, a large old bank, various airports, a constellation aircraft, and vintage New Orleans. The cast, Joseph Cotten and Theresa Wright bring to life what could have been dull takes. The home scenes drop down a bit but some of the best shots are in the bank vault. Like most crimes - what seems like a sure thing is anything but. Taking the cash is the easy part. What you do next is the hard part. By the end of this film you will be clenching your hands and trying to remember to breathe. A simple story, a great cast, and a film noir lost gem. I hope the Film Noir Foundation can find a print or gets enough donations to restore the homemade DVD. This is worth the effort.