Noir City: Odds Against Tomorrow

(1959) dir Robert Wise w/Harry Belafonte, Robert Ryan, Gloria Grahame, Shelley Winters, Ed Begley [96 min; 35mm]

One of the tersest, tensest heist movies ever made is also an angry (and still timely) riff on race relations in America, predating the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s. A trio of desperate men (Belafonte, Ryan and Begley) plan a last-ditch bank robbery in upstate New York. But Ryan’s bigotry and Belafonte’s take-no-prisoners pride keeps the tension simmering – leading to an explosive climax. Wise’s direction is crisp and cutting edge – a huge inspiration to French noir master Jean-Pierre Melville. Gloria Grahame and Shelley Winters offer kinky and melancholy support, respectively. A late-cycle film noir masterpiece, highlighted by an inventive score from John Lewis and the Modern Jazz Quartet.

A "Double Feature" ticket additionally allows admission into the 9:30 PM screening of BLAST OF SILENCE. No additional purchase is necessary.