I'm not embarrassed to say I am a huge Shelley Winters fan. No, she really wasn't classically movie star beautiful, or elegant...but she had that gritty, toughness, coupled with vulnerability that keeps your eyes glued. She was one of the few young actors like Lansbury who excelled in character roles early in their career, but could easily junp into a lead when given a chance , in a good noir or atmospheric moody drama.
Larceny caught me by surpise. It's a B noir with some A production value.....start with the crisp b&w photography, A- rate leading actors of the day John Payne & Joan Caulfield, both on loan to Universal from Fox & Paramount respectively, always terrificly slimy Dan Duryea ( in this case named 'Silky'), a bevy of noir characters, and a knockout Winters early in her Hollywood career in usual 2nd leads essaying molls and bad girls. ( Love her brief role in Fox's Cry of City also in '48) Winters never looked better in this picture ...sleek, pretty, platinum blonde and in a knockout wardrobe...by the way, all the ladies were 'dressed to kill' ( no pun intended) in this one, especially Caulfield in stunning rich-B New Look wardrobe.
I was always intrigued by John Payne, a kind of handsome zombie in those big budget Fox pictures, but here he is right at home and has the allure...well you can see why 4 dames fall hard for him in this one. And speaking of dames, there are great small parts essential to the plot played by unknowns who are just swell , most especially a super stunner Dorothy Hart who walks off with every scene she is in. When those cheaters come off In Dorothy Malone style.... BAM!
Production values here are pretty high for a Universao B picture, with a great plot, scenery, wardrobe, acting and continuity. The wind up is a little cheesy, but fun. Winters is typically cast as a desperate man-hungry victim...poor Shelley..but its great fun to see her chew up the scenery and toss some great one liners. Joan Caulfield, another lovely zombie on the screen is effective here as the saintly war widow. Duryea is always terrifying and deadly.
I really enjoyed this one. In Winters first appearance , look hard for her famous platform ankle-strap FM shoes she shared in real-life with her then roommate Marilyn Monroe. They both wore them, (as well as a striped 2pc swim suit) often in their early career publicity/ pinup shots.
Larceny caught me by surpise. It's a B noir with some A production value.....start with the crisp b&w photography, A- rate leading actors of the day John Payne & Joan Caulfield, both on loan to Universal from Fox & Paramount respectively, always terrificly slimy Dan Duryea ( in this case named 'Silky'), a bevy of noir characters, and a knockout Winters early in her Hollywood career in usual 2nd leads essaying molls and bad girls. ( Love her brief role in Fox's Cry of City also in '48) Winters never looked better in this picture ...sleek, pretty, platinum blonde and in a knockout wardrobe...by the way, all the ladies were 'dressed to kill' ( no pun intended) in this one, especially Caulfield in stunning rich-B New Look wardrobe.
I was always intrigued by John Payne, a kind of handsome zombie in those big budget Fox pictures, but here he is right at home and has the allure...well you can see why 4 dames fall hard for him in this one. And speaking of dames, there are great small parts essential to the plot played by unknowns who are just swell , most especially a super stunner Dorothy Hart who walks off with every scene she is in. When those cheaters come off In Dorothy Malone style.... BAM!
Production values here are pretty high for a Universao B picture, with a great plot, scenery, wardrobe, acting and continuity. The wind up is a little cheesy, but fun. Winters is typically cast as a desperate man-hungry victim...poor Shelley..but its great fun to see her chew up the scenery and toss some great one liners. Joan Caulfield, another lovely zombie on the screen is effective here as the saintly war widow. Duryea is always terrifying and deadly.
I really enjoyed this one. In Winters first appearance , look hard for her famous platform ankle-strap FM shoes she shared in real-life with her then roommate Marilyn Monroe. They both wore them, (as well as a striped 2pc swim suit) often in their early career publicity/ pinup shots.