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poster of I Walk Alone
Rating: 6.6/10 by 66 users

I Walk Alone (1947)

Bootleggers on the lam Frankie and Noll split up to evade capture by the police. Frankie is caught and jailed, but Noll manages to escape and open a posh New York City nightclub. 14 years later, Frankie is released from the clink and visits Noll with the intention of collecting his half of the nightclub's profits. But Noll, who has no intention of being so equitable, uses his ex-girlfriend Kay to divert Frankie from his intended goal.

Directing:
  • Byron Haskin
  • Richard McWhorter
Writing:
  • Theodore Reeves
  • John Bright
  • Charles Schnee
  • Robert Smith
Stars:
Release Date: Wed, Dec 31, 1947

Rating: 6.6/10 by 66 users

Alternative Title:
Die toten Jahre - DE
14 Jahre Sing-Sing - DE
L'homme aux abois - FR

Country:
United States of America
Language:
English
Runtime: 01 hour 37 minutes
Budget: $0
Revenue: $0

Plot Keyword: bootlegger, new york city, release from prison, based on play or musical, film noir, black and white, double cross, former best friend, retribution, nightclub owner, handshake, nightclub singer, moral reformation, former partner, accounting fraud, greedy man, payback, former gangster, corrupt businessman, betrayed by a friend, man out of time, verbal agreement, signed confession

Burt Lancaster
Frankie Madison
Lizabeth Scott
Kay Lawrence
Kirk Douglas
Noll "Dink" Turner
Kristine Miller
Alexis Richardson
Marc Lawrence
Nick Palestro
Bobby Barber
Newsboy (uncredited)
Brooks Benedict
Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
John Bishop
Ben (uncredited)
Charles D. Brown
Lt. Hollaran (uncredited)
Gino Corrado
George (uncredited)
James Davies
Masseur (uncredited)
Jean Del Val
Henri the Chef (uncredited)
Jimmie Dundee
Hijack Driver (uncredited)
Franklyn Farnum
Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
Bess Flowers
Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
John George
Little Man at Newstand (uncredited)
Sam Harris
Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
Olin Howland
Ed the Watchman (uncredited)
Kenner G. Kemp
Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
Mike Lally
Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
Bruce Lester
Charles (uncredited)
Walter Merrill
Det. Schreiber (uncredited)
Harold Miller
Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
Frank Mills
Cab Driver (uncredited)
Bert Moorhouse
Toll Booth Policeman
William H. O'Brien
Waiter (uncredited)
Jack Perrin
Policeman (uncredited)
Dewey Robinson
Heinz (uncredited)
Cap Somers
Butcher (uncredited)
Freddie Steele
Tiger Rose (uncredited)

John Chard

For a buck, you'd double-cross your own mother. I Walk Alone is directed by Byron Haskin and adapted to screenplay by Charles Schnee, Robert Smith and John Bright from the play written by Theodore Reeves. It stars Burt Lancaster, Kirk Douglas, Lizabeth Scott and Wendell Corey. Music is by Victor Young and cinematography by Leo Tover. Frankie Madison (Lancaster) returns to New York after 14 years in prison. Noll Turner (Douglas), Frankie's former partner in bootlegging, is now a wealthy nightclub manager, and Frankie is expecting him to honor a verbal '50:50' agreement they made when he was caught and Noll got away... This is perfect noir foil for the three main stars, Lancaster is all macho mismanagement and edgy, Douglas is suave, cunning and intense, while Scott smoulders and portrays her conflicted character with believable confusion and an earnest yearning for worth. The story intrigues mainly through Frankie being a man out of his time, after serving 14 years in prison, he comes out to find the underworld he once knew has changed considerably. Yet he wants what is his and will put himself through the mangler in the old day way to get what he thinks he rightly deserves. Kay Lawrence (Scott) isn't a femme fatale, she just borders the type by default until the truth will out and the story arc folds inwards (love the way Tover lights her scenes). Douglas revels in being a villain, and the Noll Turner character gives him the chance to smarm, charm and trample on anyone who could affect his monetary gains. And so it is left to Corey as Dave to round out the key affecting perfs. He's the man closest to Frankie, but as a milquetoast type of lawyer, he has, while Frankie was in prison, helped legally cover the financial angles for Noll Turner. All characters are entering noirville and it makes for a satisfying experience for fans of such. 7/10


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