Above average, minor crime film, well-directed by George Sherman. The Noir credentials of LARCENY can be disputed, but we can see John Payne's character as trapped by circumstances of his own choosing. As successful con-man, with a special talent for romancing rich women, he meets his match when something like real love comes along.
Payne is good at playing the conflicted states of the character. We've also got Dan Duryea, at his best, playing a bad guy, Shelley Winters, a razor-tongued harridan, and Percy Helton in a rare, somewhat substantial role as hotel manager. Dan O'Herlihy seems an odd choice. His British accent and gentle manner seem at odds with the confidence racket (but maybe that's the point). The dialog is quite good all the way through, with some quotable lines.
"Stop twisting my arm! People will think we're married!"
"Tory's like a high tension wire - once you grab on, you can't let go... even if you want to... and I don't want to. I like Tory. I like her a lot."
Not essential, or even very memorable, but you could do worse than to see LARCENY, now nicely transferred on blu-ray.
Payne is good at playing the conflicted states of the character. We've also got Dan Duryea, at his best, playing a bad guy, Shelley Winters, a razor-tongued harridan, and Percy Helton in a rare, somewhat substantial role as hotel manager. Dan O'Herlihy seems an odd choice. His British accent and gentle manner seem at odds with the confidence racket (but maybe that's the point). The dialog is quite good all the way through, with some quotable lines.
"Stop twisting my arm! People will think we're married!"
"Tory's like a high tension wire - once you grab on, you can't let go... even if you want to... and I don't want to. I like Tory. I like her a lot."
Not essential, or even very memorable, but you could do worse than to see LARCENY, now nicely transferred on blu-ray.