Tight Spot **** (1955, Ginger Rogers, Edward G Robinson, Brian Keith, Lorne Greene) – Classic Movie Review 7720

Director Phil Karlson’s 1955 crime thriller Tight Spot stars Ginger Rogers, Edward G Robinson and Brian Keith, and is a vintage film noir treat. It is based on Leonard Kantor’s play Dead Pigeon, which only managed to run for 21 performances on Broadway.

Lawyer Lloyd Hallett (Robinson) keeps prison inmate jailbird Sherry Conley (Rogers) company in a police-guarded hotel while she is waiting to be persuaded by the District Attorney to testify, albeit very reluctantly, against vicious gangster Benjamin Costain (Lorne Greene) in his upcoming trial. While Rogers is falling for cop Vince Striker (Keith), the policeman guarding her, attempts are made on her life, and then policewoman Mrs Willoughby (Katherine Anderson) is murdered.

The star pair of Rogers and Robinson make an outstanding team, and the other cast members give string support, in this taut, gripping, excellent little B-movie thriller. The play on which the movie is based roots it largely in talk and mostly just the one set, but it is lifted high by the twisting plot, impressive playing and Karlson’s tense direction.

Also in the cast are Lucy Marlow, Allen Nourse, Peter Leeds, Doye O’Dell, Eve McVeagh, Helen Wallace, Frank Gerstle, Robert Shield, Kathryn Grant, Joseph Hamilton and John Larch.

Tight Spot is directed by Phil Karlson, runs 97 minutes, is made and released by Columbia Pictures, is written by William Bowers, based on Leonard Kantor’s play Dead Pigeon, is shot in black and white by Burnett Guffey, is produced by Lewis J Rachmil, is scored by Morris W Stoloff and is designed by Carl Anderson.

Filming locations were the Manhattan Municipal Building, 1 Centre Street, Manhattan, and the Staten Island Ferry, New York Harbor. It was shot between 7 September and 27 October 1954.

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 7720

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