Lutte sans merci

This is one of Alan Ladd's last films, and his age is showing. But his acting is more than adequate, and it's a pleasure to see him in a role like this (aerospace engineer, husband) rather than "Gun for Hire", "Shane", "Blue Dahlia", "The Iron Mistress". etc. So much of his work was done in costume, he looks strange dressed like a suburban professional.

After doing the horrific Duel of the Champions in Europe, film offers were not inundating Alan Ladd any more. He was probably lucky to get this one which in fact he produced for himself.

13 West Street is an unpretentious drama about a 40 something man, a successful guy, an aerospace engineer in fact, who takes a wrong turn on the way home and runs into a gang of punks led by Michael Callan. They beat him up, really without any reason or provocation as punks are wont to do.

Alan Ladd is our victim and Rod Steiger is the detective from the juvenile division assigned to his case. Like Charles Bronson in Death Wish, Ladd is not real happy with the progress and starts investigating on his own. It leads to two deaths as byproducts in his pursuit of vengeance.

Dolores Dorn is good as Ladd's wife who doesn't like the changes in her husband. Ladd does give a good account of himself as the middle-aged man he was. Possibly he and Sue Carol realized finally he was no longer believable as an action hero.

Sad that the realization came too late because there was only one more film left in the career of Alan Ladd.

This is an above average programmer that benefits from decent, if predictable, performances by Alan Ladd and Rod Steiger. Ladd is a rocket scientist who gets mugged on the way home from a late night at the office by a roving band of Beverly Hills punks led by Michael Callan. What follows could be considered Death Wish 1962, as Ladd pursues the villains whilst police officer Steiger tries to keep him under control. Good photography by Charles Lawton Jr. and a reasonably interesting George Duning score make this one to watch on a cold winter's night.

Alan Ladd plays an aerospace engineer who is assaulted by a group of juvenile delinquents. Ladd ignores police detective Rod Steiger's advice to cool his jets and let the police investigate. Ladd instead buys a gun and hunts down the young punks. Based on a novel by Leigh Brackett, screenwriter of "The Big Sleep," "Rio Bravo," "The Long Goodbye," and "The Empire Strikes Back," the story is essentially a lighter version of Brian Garfield's "Death Wish." The punks are not as vicious and the vigilante is not as violent. Still, it's a solid thriller that does have an edge to it and Ladd is compelling in what would be his final leading man role. FUN FACT! At one point John Wayne was announced as a possible choice for the lead in this film after producer Charles Schnee had bought the film rights to the 1957 novel.

I was very surprised with "13 West Street". I found it both believable, and well-performed. It's amazing to see Alan Ladd's character correctly identify his as a "hate" crime. The way the director makes us (and the characters) think all teenagers are members of the five who attacked Mr. Ladd was nicely done.

The successful older man coming to terms, perhaps, with his increasing vulnerability is a great film subject. Ladd seems to understand this, and it becomes part of his performance. His physicality (whatever real health concerns he is having) is successfully incorporated into his performance.

Ladd's younger "trophy" wife really cares for him, and is unsure how to handle the unfolding events. Rod Steiger is great as the police detective assigned to the case -- watch how he turns over the newspaper when he confront the bartender. There are a lot of nice little touches like that -- from the director and/or performers… watch all their little mannerisms; they all fit the characters, and add to the believability.

There are more unexpected, and riveting, events. Are they implausible? In a 1962 film, perhaps they seemed so, but the decade ended with crimes and criminals significantly more "implausible". Accepting the situation is believable, there are some flaws which keep this from being a perfect film. I would have preferred "Chuck" to be a Charles Manson-type psycho, and could have done without the "Teenage Terror" angle. There are also some necessary "budget" restrictions.

They made the absolute most out of the budget they had, though. Highly recommended!

********* 13 West Street (1962) Philip Leacock ~ Alan Ladd, Rod Steiger, Michael Callan, Dolores Dorn