When an FBI agent (Kenneth Tobey) is murdered, his supervisor (Broderick Crawford) takes over the three case files the dead man was investigating, since the killer is known to be the perpetrator in one of them.  The cases involve a dangerous fugitive on the FBI’s “Most Wanted” list, an inter-state car theft ring and a woman (Ruth Roman) being extorted for her late husband’s insurance money.

CRITIQUE

Presented as a semi-documentary, Down Three Dark Streets was released in 1954, a time when Hollywood producers needed the blessing of J. Edgar Hoover if they wanted to make a movie about the FBI.  Thus, in order to get approval from “The Great One,” movie FBI agents had to be clean-cut, wear nice suits and exhibit the manners of Emily Post.

Indeed, have you ever seen Broderick Crawford, who was known for his snappy dialogue delivery, so soft spoken in a movie?

If you can forget its dated aspects, Down Three Dark Streets is actually a pretty good little semi-noir thriller.  Adapted from a novel by The Gordons and directed by Arnold Laven, it has a fast-paced, compelling story and the final revelation of the killer, which takes place at the base of the Hollywood Sign, comes as a bit of a surprise.

Aside from Crawford and Ruth Roman, who plays the extortion victim, impressive performances are also contributed by Marisa Pavan as the blind wife of a man being framed for car theft, Claude Akins, as the thug who is framing him and Martha Hyer, in an atypical role for her as the moll of the FBI’s “Most Wanted” fugitive.

There is another familiar face in this movie (I don’t know his name) that is somewhat of a standout (for the wrong reason).

The performer, a bit player or extra, has gray hair, looks like an ex-fighter and, because of his distinctive features, can usually be spotted in 1950s films, often playing a gangster’s henchman, a boxer or something of that sort.  However, in this movie, he appears twice, without dialogue, in two different “roles”.

In the scene in which the FBI agent (Kenneth Tobey) is murdered, he’s one of the two citizens from the apartment building who come out to see what has happened, and in the final sequence, he is one of the cops who helps capture the killer.

I guess this guy was a personal friend of Crawford’s or somebody else on the picture.

I first saw Down Three Dark Streets in a theater when it was initially released.  I enjoyed it then, and I still find it to be very watchable.

THE VIDEO

As part of MGM’s “Limited Edition Collection,” this is a “burned,” as opposed to a “pressed” DVD, and is manufactured from the best elements available, when you order it from Amazon.com on demand.

Considering its age, the full screen black-and-white picture is quite sharp.

THE AUDIO

The Dolby Digital Mono Sound is clear.

THE EXTRAS

None

FINAL THOUGHT