This contains spoilers.......1955, film noir at it's strange best. This is a detective movie and something else, Hammer drives an automatic 1955 corvette, an mgtc and a jag xk120-140. I think I got that right?

Not much action, lots of characters and needless story. Amazing LA at that time in black and white, gratuitis cable cars, lots of stairs, Nick the greek's midnight auto repair, really bad guys, cloris leachman as a hot babe, gratuitius use of the term "Vaavavoom, bang!",Velda does it all, early phone answering machine foo, eveyone smokes, mike never takes off his tie, strange horrific ending(they shot two endings this one is the original), too many characters to keep track of, early Jack Elam cameo, Hammer goes psycho on Beverly Hills Athletic Club employee, stange box contains a "what's it", references to Los Alamos and Manhattan project.

I give it an 8 outta 10 for style and Meeker is the smartest dresser in the whole movie.

 

ok i was the original poster, just saw this again, nice film to revist if you like noir....robert aldrich directed.

 

One of the most surprising endings of any film I've ever seen -- and IT TOTALLY HOLDS UP.

Cloris Leechman's first movie (!) but WHAT AN ENDING.

Watch it, folks -- worth it just for the big finish.

 

Considering...taking..... recommendation.

I just hate noir movies. The Black Dahlia scarred me for life. Watch that one for a good laugh when the old lady goes kooky and blows her own head off. I think De Palma or whomever did that one was on Meth at the time.

 

This is not some phony remake, it is a real film from that period and it is great. not a slow moment.