Contains Spoilers
Ever wondered how various producers, writers and directors came up with original ideas for such TV classics such as "Adam Twelve", "Dragnet", "CHIPS", "Police Story", "Columbo", "McCloud" and maybe even "Police Woman's" leading lady "Pepper" played by Angie Dickinson ? I'm sure this classic 1950 good cops and nasty bad guys "B" movie "Between Midnight and Dawn" had to have been THE model for "partner" cop dramas that teamed up two good, morally correct and by-the-book street cops together in some very dangerous, and very believable situations.
The two idealistic and by-the-book cops played by Mark Stevens and Edmond O'Brien present their roles with exceptional style. Donald Buka, who played in numerous criminal roles, also gives a great performance as the sadistic crime boss turned cop killer "Ritchie". The crime boss has one of the best "mugs" for crime stories - thin, nervous lips, a sub-zero stare and equally cold eyes that give audiences a lot of material for many nightmares.
This film was made in 1950 and certainly belongs into the upper level of classic "B" movies that showed a much darker side of society and the hidden slums of big cities in postwar America. It's obvious that the writers, directors, and producers of dozens of film classics such as "Ashfault Jungle" starring Sterling Hayden and "Cross Cross" starring Burt Lancaster were trying to make a very strong point that following the unbelievable horrors of World War II, the movies had many new, and more graphic boundaries in terms of depicting society, crime, suffering, and the sadistic nature of the those who prayed on the innocent.
"Between Midnight and Dawn" could easily be rewritten into a current police drama. Simply add some more currently cars, and a little more violence and you could have a major box office smash in 2004. . . . . . . This 1950 film is simple, and gives a new insight into the routine, predicable, and often violent surprises of the street cops who work the graveyard shift in an unknown, and large Midwest city. The scenes take place mostly at night, and show few, if any pretty interludes as Mark Stevens and Gale Storm (who plays a sexy voiced radio dispatcher) gradually begin a short, and tragic relationship.
Gale Storm was rarely given any opportunities to show her screen talents, and it's a rare treat to see this pretty gal who had several #1 song hits in the early 1950's (like "Dark Moon") display some great acting talents. Edmond O'Brien, who was one of the screen's grittiest and well-rounded actors comes across as a tough, no-nonsense cop who hunts down the sadistic killer of his partner Stevens. Early in the story, the two cops catch a nasty criminal who guns down a rival hood for control of the city's gambling action, and when he's brought to trial he swears revenge for the two cops who testify against him. Shortly before he's transferred to the state prison, the gunman's cohorts free him from a jail hospital in a dramatic escape and gun battle. Within hours Stevens is gunned down by Ritchie while out on patrol and his partner O'Brien watches in horror as his partner wilts under gunfire. Gale Storm, now in love with Stevens has a few last moments with him, and the two discuss plans about a wedding before Stevens dies on the operating table.
Now the stage is set for some major reprisals by the police, and the hunt takes a very personal mission by O'Brien who baggers and roughs up the killer's girlfriend - a beautiful night club singer in a vain attempt to gain the location of her "mad dog" boyfriend. Following the classic story line of "I'm an absolute sucker for my girlfriend", the killer foolishly sneaks into his sexy girlfiend's apartment, without realizing that the police have set up hidden microphones, and are monitoring her phone calls and all activities from the basement of her high rise building. Oh please, is this guy REALLY dumb or what ???
Within minutes police converge on the building, and put on a great show of spotlights, begin shouting into bullhorns "come out this is your last chance", and must have 100 police with guns of every description trained on the windows. In one last desperate attempt to buy some extra minutes for his escape, the mad dog killer grabs a small child from an adjoining apartment and dangles her outside the window . . . "You cops let me go or I drop this girl in 30 seconds" !!!!!. . . . WHEW, things are really tense, and the action level rises to the boiling point. The final moments have to go down as one of THE best classic life or death scenes between an army of cops, the determined O'Brien who wants blood, the equally determined mad dog killer, an innocent (and screaming) little girl and a suddenly turned moralistic girlfriend who jumps in front of her killer boyfriend's bullet meant for O'Brien. Just before the killer is shot dead in the hallway he makes one last insulting comment "You crazy dame" to his dying girlfriend. As expected the mad dog cop killer gets his punishment in the final and most violent scene (especially for 1950) and leaves a wall full of blood as he takes bullet after bullet from O'Brien.
We're not sure if O'Brien and Gale Storm begin a new love interest, however the director leaves a final subtle message that may very well be a STRONG possibility.
One final note, Hollywood had two very obvious "camps" of "A" and "B" actors and although all of the "B" group gave first rate performances in this fast-paced, and excellent film, very few of them ever made the transition into the "major leagues" of Hollywood. It's also very clear that the director choose a proven and reliable actor like Edmond O'Brien to greatly improve the over all quality and pace of this exciting melodrama.
The determined cops, the nasty criminals, and all of the supporting cast pulled out their talents to the max and made "Between Midnight and Dawn" one of the BEST of the top 100 crime dramas of all time from the classic black and white era. One of the best and shortest performances featured character actress Madge Blake who was one of the most recognized actresses in films of the 1950's. She also had a short revival of her career as Bruce Wayne's mother in TV's "Batman" in the mid-1960's.
Ever wondered how various producers, writers and directors came up with original ideas for such TV classics such as "Adam Twelve", "Dragnet", "CHIPS", "Police Story", "Columbo", "McCloud" and maybe even "Police Woman's" leading lady "Pepper" played by Angie Dickinson ? I'm sure this classic 1950 good cops and nasty bad guys "B" movie "Between Midnight and Dawn" had to have been THE model for "partner" cop dramas that teamed up two good, morally correct and by-the-book street cops together in some very dangerous, and very believable situations.
The two idealistic and by-the-book cops played by Mark Stevens and Edmond O'Brien present their roles with exceptional style. Donald Buka, who played in numerous criminal roles, also gives a great performance as the sadistic crime boss turned cop killer "Ritchie". The crime boss has one of the best "mugs" for crime stories - thin, nervous lips, a sub-zero stare and equally cold eyes that give audiences a lot of material for many nightmares.
This film was made in 1950 and certainly belongs into the upper level of classic "B" movies that showed a much darker side of society and the hidden slums of big cities in postwar America. It's obvious that the writers, directors, and producers of dozens of film classics such as "Ashfault Jungle" starring Sterling Hayden and "Cross Cross" starring Burt Lancaster were trying to make a very strong point that following the unbelievable horrors of World War II, the movies had many new, and more graphic boundaries in terms of depicting society, crime, suffering, and the sadistic nature of the those who prayed on the innocent.
"Between Midnight and Dawn" could easily be rewritten into a current police drama. Simply add some more currently cars, and a little more violence and you could have a major box office smash in 2004. . . . . . . This 1950 film is simple, and gives a new insight into the routine, predicable, and often violent surprises of the street cops who work the graveyard shift in an unknown, and large Midwest city. The scenes take place mostly at night, and show few, if any pretty interludes as Mark Stevens and Gale Storm (who plays a sexy voiced radio dispatcher) gradually begin a short, and tragic relationship.
Gale Storm was rarely given any opportunities to show her screen talents, and it's a rare treat to see this pretty gal who had several #1 song hits in the early 1950's (like "Dark Moon") display some great acting talents. Edmond O'Brien, who was one of the screen's grittiest and well-rounded actors comes across as a tough, no-nonsense cop who hunts down the sadistic killer of his partner Stevens. Early in the story, the two cops catch a nasty criminal who guns down a rival hood for control of the city's gambling action, and when he's brought to trial he swears revenge for the two cops who testify against him. Shortly before he's transferred to the state prison, the gunman's cohorts free him from a jail hospital in a dramatic escape and gun battle. Within hours Stevens is gunned down by Ritchie while out on patrol and his partner O'Brien watches in horror as his partner wilts under gunfire. Gale Storm, now in love with Stevens has a few last moments with him, and the two discuss plans about a wedding before Stevens dies on the operating table.
Now the stage is set for some major reprisals by the police, and the hunt takes a very personal mission by O'Brien who baggers and roughs up the killer's girlfriend - a beautiful night club singer in a vain attempt to gain the location of her "mad dog" boyfriend. Following the classic story line of "I'm an absolute sucker for my girlfriend", the killer foolishly sneaks into his sexy girlfiend's apartment, without realizing that the police have set up hidden microphones, and are monitoring her phone calls and all activities from the basement of her high rise building. Oh please, is this guy REALLY dumb or what ???
Within minutes police converge on the building, and put on a great show of spotlights, begin shouting into bullhorns "come out this is your last chance", and must have 100 police with guns of every description trained on the windows. In one last desperate attempt to buy some extra minutes for his escape, the mad dog killer grabs a small child from an adjoining apartment and dangles her outside the window . . . "You cops let me go or I drop this girl in 30 seconds" !!!!!. . . . WHEW, things are really tense, and the action level rises to the boiling point. The final moments have to go down as one of THE best classic life or death scenes between an army of cops, the determined O'Brien who wants blood, the equally determined mad dog killer, an innocent (and screaming) little girl and a suddenly turned moralistic girlfriend who jumps in front of her killer boyfriend's bullet meant for O'Brien. Just before the killer is shot dead in the hallway he makes one last insulting comment "You crazy dame" to his dying girlfriend. As expected the mad dog cop killer gets his punishment in the final and most violent scene (especially for 1950) and leaves a wall full of blood as he takes bullet after bullet from O'Brien.
We're not sure if O'Brien and Gale Storm begin a new love interest, however the director leaves a final subtle message that may very well be a STRONG possibility.
One final note, Hollywood had two very obvious "camps" of "A" and "B" actors and although all of the "B" group gave first rate performances in this fast-paced, and excellent film, very few of them ever made the transition into the "major leagues" of Hollywood. It's also very clear that the director choose a proven and reliable actor like Edmond O'Brien to greatly improve the over all quality and pace of this exciting melodrama.
The determined cops, the nasty criminals, and all of the supporting cast pulled out their talents to the max and made "Between Midnight and Dawn" one of the BEST of the top 100 crime dramas of all time from the classic black and white era. One of the best and shortest performances featured character actress Madge Blake who was one of the most recognized actresses in films of the 1950's. She also had a short revival of her career as Bruce Wayne's mother in TV's "Batman" in the mid-1960's.