Wed 6 Apr 2016
THE KILLER IS LOOSE. United Artists, 1956. Joseph Cotten, Rhonda Fleming, Wendell Corey, Alan Hale Jr., Michael Pate, John Larch, Dee J. Thompson. Based on a novelette by John & Ward Hawkins (The Saturday Evening Post, 13 June 1953). Director: Budd Boetticher.
A more or less straight forward crime suspense thriller, with a remarkable performance by Wendell Corey as an escpaed convict obsessed with killing the wife (Rhonda Fleming) of the cop (Joseph Cotten) who mistakenly killed his wife while tracking him (Corey) down as part of a robbery, an inside job, at the bank where he previously was only a mild-mannered teller.
I wasn’t sure that I could do it, but it looks as though I managed to get almost the entire plot summarized in one paragraph. One thing I decided not to squeeze in, though, was the fact that Cotten’s wife is after him to quit the police department and get a job a lot less dangerous. The irony, of course, is that she’s the target, and Cotten does his darnedest to protect her, while at the same time keeping her from finding out.
There are a few awkward — no, make that contrived — moments that weaken the story, such as having the wives of the two policemen who nabbed Corey there in the courtroom when he’s found guilty, and having him confront the two couples afterward. Just a little shortcut in storytelling, that’s all, but for a moment, it was jarring.
The final scene is almost predictable from the moment you see Corey make his escape. But what makes it suspenseful anyway is that Corey, almost blind without his thick glasses, kills three people, some in shocking fashion. You’re sure everything will work out right in the end, but in hands of someone like director Budd Boetticher, you’re just never really sure.
April 6th, 2016 at 11:12 am
An ordinary film at the program level made fashionable by people who give Boetticher a disproportionate amount of credit for the Ranown cycle. Plus, Rhonda Fleming is awfully good looking.
April 6th, 2016 at 1:50 pm
Ordinary yes, but the level of professionalism compared to many films today is still entertaining. The contrivance though of Cotten leaving his wife in danger rather than risk his marriage by telling her Corey is after her was almost too much for me.
Corey is good though, underplaying what could have been a showy role.
April 6th, 2016 at 3:03 pm
A fun, albeit predictable police procedural but one with some very nice on location shots of the westside of Los Angeles
April 6th, 2016 at 5:57 pm
I agree with Steve that THE KILLER IS LOOSE is a worthwhile film.
And agree with Pinchus that the location photography is especially interesting. Notable: the scenes in and around the bank near the start; and the farm scenes later.
Also good: the depiction of police procedure, and police use of technology.
April 6th, 2016 at 6:08 pm
You’re right, Barry; A film with some modest virtues, but not up to Boetticher’s best and certainly not typical of the work that garnered him his well-deserved rep.