AniInterview Sorry, this movie sucks

FeistyUpper If you don't like this, we can't be friends.

VeteranLight I don't have all the words right now but this film is a work of art.

FuzzyTagz If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.

Lechuguilla Set mostly in the slums of Chicago in the late 1950s, this intense drama tells the story of several adults trapped in depressing lives from which there seems no escape. So they bundle their good intentions in hopes of shepherding a fatherless teenager named Nick (James Darren) into a more hopeful life. Shelley Winters plays Nick's mother, Nellie. And Burl Ives plays the Judge, a man who somehow allowed his love of alcohol to derail his judicial career. A few others add to Nick's improvised family.Although Nellie would probably be considered the lead character, the film could almost be described as having an ensemble cast, given that each of the main performers has scenes independent of Nellie. The script is talky but tight; dialogue largely drives the plot forward. Themes include dignity and self-determination despite apparent hopelessness.Consistent with these themes, interiors are mostly drab and bleak; alcohol and drugs figure prominently in these peoples' lives. B&W lighting trends low-key and mostly low-contrast, though side lighting adds a hint of noir in some scenes. The score consists of intermittent elevator music that's very soft and nondescript. Ella Fitzgerald's piano playing and singing mirrors the softness of the background music. Casting is perfect. The main players all give topnotch performances.Based on a novel, this film gets off to a somewhat slow start but the drama picks up, and builds to a theatrical climax. It's been awhile since I have watched a film with such a good script, particularly in the second and third Acts. And with a great cast and terrific performances, "Let No Man Write My Epitaph" makes a highly favorable impression.

parkerr86302 I am very pleased to see all of the positive responses here at IMDb to a film that was not considered to be much in its day. Very well done, and a lot more frank then you would expect from the era.Not really a sequel to KNOCK ON ANY DOOR---the relationship is minor at best, non-existent at worst. You don't have to see the first movie to understand this one.A very positive thing is the relationship between the lead (James Darren) and his alcoholic mother (Shelley Winters). He knows all about her past but loves her anyway, and the dialogue is good. Far too many movies perpetuate the stereotype that parents and children of the opposite sex cannot, or should not, discuss serious "adult" issues intelligently.Strongly recommended bit of film noir.

adsqueiroz What a film! A classic or a thriller, I don't know, but it sure is one of those films for you not to miss. It is already one of my favorite classics. A story that makes you understand how it is important to pursue a dream, a dream of not letting a child follow the footsteps of a criminal father. A story that teaches us some important values. It is a struggle for life and an excellent opportunity for us to think about this problem. Drugs, violence and alcohol are some of the matters that make this film an important issue to discuss about. Good casting and acting also help to make this film a must-see. It is a classic worth watching.

mctoomey This is one of my all-time favorite films. A classic inner city drama which draws you into the lives of the characters, their strengths and weaknesses. A solid cast brings to life the struggles of a group of, for lack of words, losers who band together to help a young man escape a life of poverty filled with drugs, alcohol, and violence. This movie is rarely on TV so if you get the chance, don't miss it. Watch for the climactic final scenes which feature Burl Ives going "through" (as opposed to breaking open) a bolted door, then "absorbing" six rounds from a .38 before throttling heroin pusher and all-around bad guy, Ricardo Montalban. As an added treat, the great Ella Fitzgerald sings in her role as, of course, a singer.