FuzzyTagz
If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.
Motompa
Go in cold, and you're likely to emerge with your blood boiling. This has to be seen to be believed.
Invaderbank
The film creates a perfect balance between action and depth of basic needs, in the midst of an infertile atmosphere.
Logan
By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.
mark.waltz
I give Vera Hruba Ralston credit for hanging onto her career even though her films were pretty much overlooked and underviewed. She lasted nearly two decades as the favorite of Republic studio head Herbert J. Yates, pretty much the Norma Shearer to his Irving Thalberg, or basically the Marion Davies to his William Randolph Hearst. Hers was a career guided by the boss and for 17 years, misguided as a film star. I've been fascinated by her for a while now, finding more of her rare films. She's a wooden actress, rather bland looking yet there's a fascinating aura about her that doesn't excuse her lack of talent, but it's difficult to take your eyes off of her.Not many actors lose their accent when they sing, but Ralston does. I've seen her sing in a few films, and it never fails to hear her slow speaking accent and then hear a non accented singing voice. Ralston is a sudden widow who witnessed a murder involving narcotic agents and has a breakdown. She's quizzed by tough talking Rod Cameron, protected by dumb as nails (but no one I'd want to mess with) Mike Mazurki, and possibly hiding something. Ralston doesn't have the ability to express anything really, so you have to go along with the idea that she's either a complete innocent or totally bad to the bone and able to hide her feelings simply by closing off her mind to the meaning of everything she says or does. I give the writers credit for playing around this lack of ability, and it doesn't hurt that the black and white photography and editing are above average. What's unfortunate is the slow pacing and often stagnant acting by minor actors.
alancmiller
This is one of those noir films that is salvaged from ignominy by the fine work of actors in minor roles. Rod Cameron, the male lead does a workmanlike job, but leading lady Vera Ralston is almost unwatchable. The script calls for a traumatized woman, but she gives us a helpless and annoying whiner. This would have been a much better film had she been replaced by a Marie Windsor, Caroline Jones, or Jane Randolph. Unfortunately, Ralston was married to the the boss of Republic Pictures, so she managed to mess up a lot of movies before she retired.
Fortunately there are several good character actors here including Louis Jean Heydt as police captain Andy Hampton, Mike Mazurki as the lovesick bartender Rak, Jesslyn Fax as the snoopy old lady, and Gerald Milton & Richard Kaplan as the quarrelsome hit men. Its not The Blue Dahlia, but I'd give this film a 6.5 on a scale of ten.
GUENOT PHILIPPE
The first time I saw this movie, I did not believe Joseph Kane was the director. Kane who has shot only westerns - and some adventures or war films - all over the years. I don't forget, of course, "Hoodlum Empire", a good thriller, neither "Notorious Mr Monks" and "Accused of murder".But it was a good surprise for me. Mike Mazurki and Gerald Milton play interesting characters who remind William Conrad and Charles Mc Graw in the superb Robert Siodmak classic: "The Killers". Two hired killers who always "work" binomial, and take care of cats in their hotel room...Rod Cameron play also perhaps the only character on non westerner of his career.Vera Ralston is OF COURSE in the run. Republic Picture...Not a great but good little thriller.
southfar
This is an important movie in regards to the history of Republic Pictures. Starting in 1957, Republic technically didn't make films anymore, but released or distributed films made by independent companies. But only one of these independent companies was made up of personnel from the original Republic Pictures, Ventura Productions. The Man Who Died Twice was the last film of seven or eight made by Ventura (December 1957), released by Republic in June 1958. So technically, this was the last real Republic Production, with Republic regulars at the helm: Joseph Kane, director, Jack Marta, director of photography, Bob Mark, makeup supervision, Rudy Ralston, Producer, etc. The two top stars were Republic stalwarts, Rod Cameron and Vera Ralston. It has a good story, is paced well, as usual, by Kane (named by Gene Autry to be the John Ford of B movies) and photographed beautifully in black and white and Republic's wide screen process, Naturama, by Marta. It is Vera Ralston's last film and Kane's last film for Republic. He moved on to directing westerns on TV and then in the mid 60s did some directing and 2nd unit directing for films. Republic collapsed in mid 1959, more valuable for the land its studio was sitting on and for its film library. Do your best to try and see the 70 minute film. It has a great supporting cast headed by Mike Mazurki (who appeared with Vera and John Wayne in 1945's Dakota from Republic, also directed by Kane).