Criss Cross (1949)
Genre: Filmnoir / Crime
Duration: 84 minuten
Country:
United States
Directed by: Robert Siodmak
Stars: Burt Lancaster, Yvonne De Carlo and Dan Duryea
IMDb score:
7,4 (10.962)
Releasedate: 4 February 1949
Criss Cross plot
"When you Double-Cross a Double-Crosser... It's a Criss Cross!"
Steve Thompson leaves for Los Angeles to win back his beloved Anna. Anna is now in the criminal circuit and Steve is dragged into the dark world of crime and violence by his wife. Can Steve still get out of here?
Actors and actresses
Steve Thompson / Narrator
Anna Dundee
Slim Dundee
Det. Lt. Peter 'Pete' Ramirez
Orchestra Leader
Vincent
Frank
Finchley
Pop
Helen
Reviews & comments
Noodless
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- 10100 messages
- 6209 votes
Not as strong as it is made out to be here, but certainly a good film with a great femme fatale (Yvonne De Carlo) who really knows how to play a bitch here, constantly manipulating men with her looks and elegance. Examples include the opening scene with Steve, the seductive dancing Yvonne de Carlo and Toni Curtis (debut), and the final scene at the cottage by the river. Only then does it all dawn on Steve that money is more important to Anna than love. Clever Dundee is well portrayed by Dan Duryea, who also makes his own plans and manages to surprise the viewer in the final scene. Lancaster as Steve also plays a convincing role who must passively watch as Anna has him in her grip. Clever ending! 7/10
Translated from Dutch · View original
SpecialAgentDaleCooper
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- 22 messages
- 19 votes
A fairly standard film noir that does contain enough enjoyable moments.
With its short running time, Criss Cross takes little time to build tension. Half of the film is also a flashback showing how a driver of valuables gets caught up in the criminal underworld and thus becomes the 'inside man' during a robbery.
Apart from the fact that he needs money and his lover is an accomplice of this criminal gang, I was not entirely convinced of his motivation to participate in such a dangerous operation. For me, the story also came to a rather abrupt end. I wouldn't have minded if they had taken a bit more time for this.
Aside from the heist scene being short, I found it quite effective. Furthermore, there are a few other strong scenes in this film, such as the one in the hospital and the introduction of the femme fatale (in the flashback) while a band is playing at the same time.
Translated from Dutch · View original
El Loco
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- 1371 messages
- 2597 votes
Film noirs often tend to lose themselves in a complicated plot, but Siodmak delivers a very strong and simple film noir here.
It is a kind of love story, but a very grim one, in which Steve tries to win Anna back from his rival Slim, who is also a criminal. Steve's reason for setting up the heist with Slim is not for the money, but to take out Slim and get Anna back.
The ending reminded me a bit of Sweet Smell of Success (coincidentally also featuring an excellent Burt Lancaster in that film), where everyone loses in the end. That entire final scene was actually very well done, with Slim walking into the cottage and coolly shooting Steve and Anna while he can already hear the police sirens. A very raw ending, but one that will definitely stick with you for a while.
It is certainly not the only strong scene we get to see, because despite this short running time, Siodmak has managed to incorporate a number of very fine ones. The hospital scene, in particular, is a very strong one, where the tension builds more and more. The scenes set in the pub are also a pleasure to watch, containing an abundance of atmosphere. That Rumba scene with the dancing Yvonne De Carlo is certainly a real treat.
Yvonne De Carlo delivers a very strong performance as a femme fatale, but the entire cast is on top form. I always find Burt Lancaster raises the level of a film a bit, and Dan Duryea seems to me to be someone born to play roles of stylish bad guys. He already really charmed me in The Woman in the Window.
Very strong film noir by Robert Siodmak. I thought The Killers was good too, but this is on a notch higher.
4*
Translated from Dutch · View original
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