- Title: WF-1
- Summary: RAW DEAL: Film Noir. Crime Film. Directed by Anthony Mann. Starring: Dennis O'Keefe, Claire Trevor, Marsha Hunt, John Ireland, Raymond Burr, Curt Conway, Chili Williams. Written by Leopold Atlas & John C. Higgins. Director of Photography John Alton A.S.C. Music by Paul Sawtell. Released by Eagle-Lion Films. Plot: Prisoner Joe Sullivan (Dennis O'Keefe), who has "taken the fall" for an unspecified crime, breaks jail with the help of his girl, Pat (Claire Trevor). Neither Joe nor Pat is aware that the escape has been facilitated as a set-up by mobster Rick Coyle (Raymond Burr), a sadistic pyromaniac, who has arranged for Joe to be killed during the break-out in order to avoid confronting him and paying Joe his agree-upon share of $50,000 for the crime. When the break-out scheme succeeds, contrary to Rick's expectations, Rick decides that he must have Joe done in some other way, by somebody else. In the course of their run, Pat and Joe kidnap a social worker, Ann (Marsha Hunt), who has been visiting Joe in prison, trying to reform him. This begins a doomed film noir love triangle. A fight with a vicious thug ends when Ann shoots Joe's attacker in the back. After acting in Joe's defense, Ann realizes she is in love with Joe. Relenting, he sends her away and prepares to flee the country with Pat. In their hotel room, Pat receives a phone call from Rick's associate warning them that Ann has been seized by Rick, and will be harmed if Joe and Pat do not come out from hiding. Pat does not disclose the nature of the phone call, but instead tells Joe that it was a call from the hotel desk clerk about their check-out time, since she is anxious to avoid telling him anything about Ann that would lead him to hesitate beginning a new life with Pat. After boarding a ship to flee the country, Joe attempts to convince Pat that they can start over a new life together, however Pat finally realizes that Joe will always be thinking of Ann. Pat realizes she must tell Joe that Ann is in danger and does so. Before the ship sets sail, Joe races to save Ann and kill her captor Rick. Under the cover of a thick fog, Joe manages to get past Rick's thugs who are positioned to ambush Joe, and sneaks into Rick's room. Surprised by Joes sudden intrusion, a sudden gunfight erupts with Rick and Joe shooting each other and inadvertently starting a fire. Joe and Rick, both wounded, fight hand to hand with Joe finally pushing Rick through an upper story window to his death. Mortally wounded, the dying Joe is comforted by Ann as Pat looks on.
- Description:01:00:01 - Title Card: Edward Small Presents Raw Deal a Reliance Picture. 01:01:13 - EXT. DAY Prison Gates with Prison in Background. Sign on gate says "Lights Out". 01:01:19 - C.U. STATE PRISON sign. 01:01:22 - Car approaches Prison gates. Guard heads over to let it in. 01:01:32 - POV WALKING toward main prison building. 01:01:41 - Elegantly dressed woman walks down hall and hands paperwork to police officer. Officer uses date stamping machine and tells her to wait. She looks mildly surprised and suspicious. Sits down to wait. 01:02:08 - INT. VISITATION ROOM. Woman speaks to male prisoner. They sit on opposite sides of wire cage style wall. Includes good shots of of the prisoner behind the wire. Jail Bird. 01:03:43 - Woman looks flattered by man's remark. We see a shiny glint in her eye. Could read for romantic love, beauty. 01:03:47 - Woman walks away, leaving the prisoner behind the wire wall. Goodbye prisoner. 01:03:52 - Woman sitting in hallway notices and watches another woman leaving the visitation room. She watches the woman walk by. Jealousy. Intrigue. 01:04:11 - Woman rises and enters visitor's room. The woman and prisoner talk. Good shots of Prisoner behind the wire again. 01:04:43 - CU Woman in Veil looks longingly at prisoner. She has a shiny gleam in her eye, too. Could read as a woman in mourning or as a woman in love. Followed by a back-and-forth about a prison break. Breaking out of prison. Secret discussion. Prisoner puts on baseball style prison cap. Sound Byte "That's why I want out of this place." 01:06:08 - Model/matte painting of San Francisco with Golden Gate Bridge in the Background. 01:06:13 - Antique style street lamp lit at night. Street sign says Jane St Corkscrew Alley. Car drives down quiet, wet street. Fog. Classic Film Noir image. 01:06:28 - Mobster in his posh living room with two associates and a beautiful woman. Mobster burns associate's ear with a lighter for fun, knocks over a house of cards. 01:08:10 - Model of a clock tower. Time says 11:27. 01:08:17 - Model of an elevated Train stop. Signs say "Derail" and "Trains Slow Down". Camera drops down to ground level. Sign with an arrow for "State Prison". 01:08:39 - EXT Woman sits in car waiting. Mysterious looking shot. 01:08:54 - EXT. Night Prison. Guard walks along top of wall. 01:08:58 - Good shot of woman in car waiting and looking at her watch. C.U. Gruen Womens wristwatch. Excellent Noir shot of woman looking through windshield as car lights shine on her. Car passes by. More shots of ext of prison. Woman looks nervous and stressed out, anxious. Train horn suddenly sounds startling her. Good shot from back seat of car. We see the woman's eyes in the rear view mirror. Woman is at an emotional wits end. 01:09:58 - Alarm sounds. Prison break! Escapee runs along roof, slides down downspout of gutter, Guards move into action with rifles. They shoot at the fleeing prisoner as he runs along the outside prison wall. Woman drives car Getaway car up to meet escapee who gets into the still moving car. Car speeds away into the night. 01:10:37 - Escapee changes clothes in the backseat of the getaway car as woman drives. Man looks at San Francisco city map with flashlight. CU map. 01:11:40 - EXT. Night Car pulls up to "Tailors Inc" Shop. Window says "DRUGS". Man and woman get out of the car. CU Bullet riddled rear of car. Gas leaks onto street. They Leave the car behind. 01:12:04 - EXT. Night. Taxi Cab pulls up to curb. Woman is driving cab. As escapee exits cab we see the real cab driver tied up in the backseat with a gag in his mouth. Car jacking. Man enters brownstone style home while woman waits in cab taxi. Man returns 01:12:46 - Woman asleep in bed. Man appears at her open bedroom window. Burglar. Peeping Tom. Man enters, sits beside her, kisses her. She awakes in surprise. Man puts hand over her mouth. She recognizes him. Man turns on a radio while woman puts on her robe. 01:14:19 - Good shot of man looking out window down to the taxi cab. He lowers the blinds and closes them. 01:14:48 - Man and woman hold each other. Woman tells him to go back and "turn yourself in". She tells him it's not too late. She suggests she call the police. He grabs her by the arm. Cold read as Domestic violence, Wife beating, violence against women. They argue. He lights a cigarette while she tries to convince him to turn himself in. CU elegant rotary phone. Her hand brushes by it. She considers calling the police while he listens to radio. He goes back to the window, opens blinds and looks out. Woman takes the telephone without him seeing her do it. From the window we see a man approach the taxi cab in the street below. A drunk wants a ride. The gagged cabbie is still in the back. Man lifts blinds and yells down to the drunk telling him it's his cab. Drunk waves to man in window and walks away. Man gestures for woman to come up to the bedroom. As man turns he notices the telephone cord moving. He opens a door, says "what do you think you're doing?" and then shoves her face so she falls onto a chair. Domest violence, violence against women. Man threatens to hit her with the phone when it rings. He lets it continue to ring while he grabs her purse pocketbook and looks for keys. He finds them and tosses the purse to her. 01:17:57 - Doorbell rings. Man with gun in his waistband opens door and lets woman in. They talk. He pushes her away. While listening to radio he takes the map out of his pocket and marks it. Man looks out the window and sees another car pull up. One woman leaves while the other tries to convince the man not to flee by putting herself in front of the door. Could read as "Don't leave." 01:19:19 - Two police officers tend to the gagged cab driver. 01:19:22 - Detective sits at a table with a street map of the city before him. He listens to radio dispatches and then marks the map. 01:19:49 - Low Angle shot of trees, sky and telephone poles and wires. Then Dodge Convertible car drives along the road with headlights on. 01:20:05 - INT CAR. Man drives. Two women sit beside him. Internal dialog of woman showing jealousy. Woman then says "Why Don't we ditch her now." Women argue over the man driving. Both love him. Sound Byte from car radio: "We interrupt this broadcast for a moment to bring you a special police bulletin." 01:21:44 - Car pulls into gas station service station. Escapee gets out while women wait in the car. Then they sneak out of the car and climb into a different vehicle, a station wagon. A man walks out of service station. Escapee asks "Hey, gotta match?" Asks for a light. Cigarette. Man obliges. Woman opens vehicle door and the man yells, "Hey, what are you doing there?!" Escapee punches man in the stomach. Escapee jumps into station wagon and pulls away but is blocked by a large truck pulling in. Man takes the car they left to chase them. Hot pursuit. Car chase. Motorcycle cops police hear radio call, watch Dodge convertible car speed by. They chase. Police Chase. Police pull over the car. Man tries to convince police he's not a criminal. 01:25:04 - Escapee and the women arrive at a police checkpoint. Cars slowly go past the police. Escapee get his gun ready. Police discuss the situation and then wave all the cars through. They have escaped. 01:25:59 - Two detectives discuss the case. Detective picks up the phone and gives orders while other detective grabs his coat and hat fedora and leaves. 01:26:24 - Low angle woods trees. Man and woman camping out. Campfire. They are cold. Hiding in the woods. 01:27:11 - Great shot of silhouette of man riding horse along a ridge. The three continue to discuss their situation. Women bicker. Man on horse approaches. Escapee hides behind tree. 01:28:39 - Good CU of man with a gun. Could read as "stick 'em up." A hold up. Murder. Horseman is a park ranger or something similar. Woman puts out fire. Ranger is polite and let's them go and rides away. Escapee hugs one woman while other argues with man. A woman scorned. Woman says sound bite "You don't have to worry about me turning you in anymore. I don't have to. You'll get yours somehow, some time somewhere." 01:30:23 - Mobster gambling poker at a luxurious party. Poker player collects chips. Sound bite "This just isn't your lucky day." Mobster agitated by girlfriend leaning on him. Pushes her way. Shuffling deck of cards. Threatening conversation. Dessert delivered by waiter. Mobster lights it on fire. Flaming dessert. Cherries Jubilee. 01:31:53 - Mobster rises from his seat. Dancing couple accidentally spill cocktail on Mobster. Mobster grabs flaming dessert and throws it in woman's face. She screams. 01:32:37 - Woody station wagon drives along quite road. Headlines on, wide shot of car driving through a natural setting. Scrub trees, mountain in background. 01:32:56 - Station wagon pulls up to tudor style house (matte painting). Oscar's Tavern. Car beeps horn on approach. We're home. Honey I'm home style shot. 01:33:01 - Front door opens and proprietor of the house/tavern emerges with his dog. and opens the gate for the car. Dog barks. Proprietor welcomes the driver. Car pulls into the shed garage. They talk. Man takes out a cigarette and lights it. They head inside. Woman twists her ankle. Hurts herself. Man carries her. 01:34:27 - Woman lays in bed. Scheming. Man looks out bedroom window. CU Woman's thoughtful face "He's never really told me he loved me." Jealous. Love. They talk. She's disillusioned. He leaves. 01:35:45 - Knock on bedroom door. No answer. Man enters unlit room, realizes no one is there and exits. 01:35:56 - EXT NIGHT. Woods. Man Hunt starting. Police and cars. 01:36:32 - Man walks into shed where Oscar mechanic works on car. They talk. Man runs outside, opens gate and heads out to find missing woman. Woman sits on a bench in a pretty natural setting. Romantic evening. She smokes a cigarette. Man relieved to find her and to know she isn't running away. She gets up to leave. He grabs her arm. Sexual tension. Man says "Perfect spot for guy meets gal." He talks tough about himself. She starts to leave. He grabs her and kisses her forcefully. Rape. Unwanted sexual advances. Sexual abuse. They talk. She's defiant. He's rough. She pulls herself away and tells him off. Upset, she runs back to the tavern. Man feels like a heel. Jerk. 01:39:24 - Manhunt in the woods at night. 01:39:27 - Woman sits in dimly lit bedroom. Smokes cigarette. He hears someone coming and puts out cigarette. Other woman enters. She is surprised to see the room is not empty. They argue. Woman slaps other woman in the face. Woman reacts by saying, "Thanks. I probably deserves that." 01:39:52 - Man walks back toward the tavern. Oscar the Mechanic runs to him at the front gate. They hear dogs barking. Manhunt. 01:40:14 - Women in the bedroom hear dogs barking, race to the window. 01:40:18 - Manhunt. Dogs onto the scent. Barking. Flashlights. Men run into the house/tavern. They turn off the lights. A different man on the run falls down. Dogs and police close in. Men look out window. Scared. What's outside the window? Man on the run busts through brush. 01:41:03 - Men looks out the window. Hiding. Man runs by window. Tavern keeper runs to the door. Man pounds on outside of the door begging to come in. Tavern keeper yells "Get away or I'll blow your head off." Women come down the stairs. Man continues to pound on the door, begging to come in. Woman looks at man with a look of desperation and hope. Man, reluctantly tells the tavern owner to let the poor slob in. Man on the run enters and collapses on the floor. Man is hysterical. "I don't know why I did it. I loved her!" They look out the window. 01:42:26 - Motorcycle cops police drive toward camera. Night. Headlights on. Woods. Light shines into the Tavern and people inside duck down. Officer cop gets off his bike motorcycle, turns of headlights. He talks to another officer. "Get the tear gas." 01:42:48 - Police off camera yell "Anyone in there come out or we'll get you out." Police approach house tavern. Inside the hysterical man yells "I got it coming to me!". They try to quiet him. Police continue their advance. Finally man flees the house in a frenzy. Through the window we see the man with a gun in his hand. Police lights find him. He stops and starts shooting into the air to encourage the police to shoot him. He his shot. Gunned down. Killed. Woman's shoulders fall as she sees the man get killed. She turns and tells the man "It could be you." 01:43:38 - Through the window we see police approach the house. Man and woman hide in the back room. Tavern owner approaches the door as police office enters. Police makes phone call from telephone on the wall. Man and woman listen to the police man on the other side of the door. Hiding from police. 01:44:49 - Inn keeper speaks with the man and two women in the car. It pulls away. 01:45:10 - Car drives through the mountains. Country drive. Pan to show the ocean. 01:45:25 - Neon Sign reads Crescent City Motel followed by neon sign that reads Dining Room Cocktails. 01:45:34 - Couple walks and talks along a sidewalk. He holds her by the arm. They stop on a porch and talk. "Be careful and come back soon." He walks away. She looks off towards him longingly. 01:46:07 - EXT. Building. Sign says Grimshaw's Taxidermy Fishing and Sport Supplies. Dear antlers adorn the facade of the building. 01:46:14 - Shop owner man in fishing gear sits with a Man in a suit, a Mobster bad guy builds a house of cards. It collapses. They have a secretive conversation. Owner takes ash tray and dumps contents into Franklin stove wood stove. Through window we see a car pull up. 01:47:03 - Shot of mobster loading his handgun gun. 01:47:08 - Man and woman have conversation in front seat of car. Ocean waves crash behind them. Mobster prepares for them to enter. Couple continues to converse in the car. They get out of the car and enter the building. They speak with the shop owner. Then man enters a room. A stuff Bear stands beside him, raises his hands in the air. Mobster chuckles and appears from beside the stuffed bear. He holds a gun. Hands up. Stick 'em up. Hand gun falls on the floor. They talk. Mobster directs man into another room. Man suddenly turns, hits the mobster and knocks him down. Fistfight. Brawl. Shop owner jumps into the fight and attacks man until mobster can regain his footing. Man fights the mobster and the shop owner. Mobster attempts to hit man with a chair. Woman runs from another room, opens the door and looks in surprise fear as she sees the men fight. Man scrapes mobsters cheek against deer antler on wall. Fight continues Mobster breaks a bottle and attacks the man. They struggle. the broken bottle falls to the floor. Fight continues until Man knocks down mobster and then fights with shop owner. Shop owner tries to use a spike. Woman looks on repulsed by the violence. CU Gun on Floor. Woman reacts to it. Reaches for it. Mobster picks up a metal pipe and approaches the man. Woman shoots the mobster. Attempted Murder. Woman's scared face. She backs away as the man and shop owner continue to fight. She looks at the gun. She can't believe what's she's done. She throws the gun down and runs out of the shop onto the beach. Man knocks out Shop owner. Wounded mobster rises only to be finally knocked out. 01:52:35 - Terrified woman runs along the beach. Man exits building and follows her. She collapses in tears. Crying. Man runs along the beach. Man holds crying woman in his arms. He tries to comfort her. They kiss. Romantic. Reunited love. "Oh, Joe. I do love you." 01:54:49 - Man talks on a seaside pay phone telephone. Waves crash behind him. "Don't ask questions. Do as I say." 01:55:05 - Car drives along the shore. Car stops opposite another car. Sound bite "It's the end of the line." 01:55:29 - The other woman sits in her car waiting. Jealous. Man tells woman to get out and go to the other car. He lights a cigarette. Man acts tough. Reaches over and opens the passenger side door and tells her to get out. Woman gets dumped. The two woman walk toward each other's ca. Pass each other on the street. Almost looks like a prisoner exchange or kidnapping exchange. Cars drive past each other and away from each other. 01:56:51 - Woman cries while she drives. 01:57:05 - Car pulls up to service station. Woman doesn't notice mobster on phone. Service attendant speaks with woman. Mobster continues to speak on the phone. She pays attendant and pulls way. Mobster recognizes her, jumps into his convertible and follows her. 01:58:18 - EXT San Francisco Street. Night Streetlights seen from a window. Shots of woman in thought. Planning. Pondering. Melancholy. 01:58:40 - Man loads gun. Woman tries to talk him out of murder. She hugs him. He tells her he's got to do it. Conversation becomes about the other woman. They argue. Man slaps woman. Violence against women. She's shocked by the blow and leaves him alone in the apartment. 02:01:37 - Man pours himself a drink, takes a swig of it, then throws the glass against the wall. Frustration. Anger. 02:01:54 - EXT City street night. Noir style fog, wet roads. Woman walks alone. 02:01:59 - Mobster manhandles woman. Tells her to "Get inside". Violence against women. He brings her to his boss. Man threatens woman by lighting his lighter. 02:02:48 - Woman returns to man. They talk. Love gone wrong. They make up. Man and woman hug. Love. 02:04:22 - 1940s Panel truck drives along foggy quiet city street. Man runs across street and enters building. 02:04:36 - Mobster builds house of cards. 02:05:26 - Man shaves. Woman returns home. Phone in foreground rings. She answers it. They talk. Secret conversation. 02:06:57 - Detectives talk in office. Looking for a criminal. 02:07:23 - Taxi Cab stops at the San Francisco Docks. Man and woman exit car and board a ship. Get settled in their room. Man tips deckhand. Man and woman hug. 02:09:21 - Man stands at ship window. Fake Golden Gate Bridge can be seen in background. Model. 02:09:23 - Clock says 12:13. Woman looks at clock and then looks away scheming. Man smokes cigarette. 02:10:38 - Great Shot of Ships clock with woman's reflection on the glass. 02:10:50 - woman in veil ponders her situation. Emotional. Fighting tears. 02:11:36 - Car Drives along wet city street. Fog. Night. 02:11:41 - C.U. Clock. 12:25. 02:11:43 - Scared man awaits killer to arrive. Turns off lights. 02:12:08 - EXT. Night. Teenager on roller skates skates through the fog. Men in the fog with guns. Preparing for a shootout. Man tosses metal garbage can lid out as a diversion. Other man shoots. Wounded man falls on garbage can lid. Man with gun continues through the fog. More shootout. 02:14:34 - Mobster looks out window. Then pours himself a drink. Liquor. Then lights candles. Man with gun enters. Mobster shoots man. Shootout ensues. Candlestick falls to floor and curtains sheers catch on fire. Man fires gun but no bullets left. Mobster smashes bottle over man's head. They struggle. Fight amidst fire and smoke. 02:16:26 - Man in suit stumbles into fire filled room, crashes through window and falls to his death. Classic movie fall. Camera follows man down to his death ala Martin Balsam in Hitchcock's Psycho. Wounded man hears pounding on the door. He struggles to open a door. 02:16:55 - Police Car arrives at scene. Wounded man exits building with woman and falls down stairs. CU woman looks in disbelief, horror. Woman comforts dying man. Man Dies and falls from her arms. Upset women. Closing shot of woman crying on dead man's body while a man and woman look on and the building burns. Pan to street lamp. Street sign reads Jane Street Corkscrew Alley. The End. Credits follow.
- Collection: Historic Films
- Producer:Historic Films
- Transmission Date:01/01/1948
- Rights:On request
- Decade: 1940s
- File Name: WF-1