As blunt as its title, Armored Car Robbery (1950) is fast-paced, intense, and to the point, a ninety-seven minute film noir (and one of the first heist movies) that brings us into an intricately planned robbery taking place in the City of Angels.
Directed by Richard Fleischer (Soylent Green), the central crime takes place outside of Wrigley Field, so you might think the film maker has transported us to “Chicago, Chicago that toddling town, Chicago, Chicago I will show you around”, yet, don’t let the name confuse you. . . there was a second Wrigley that housed minor league teams until 1967 in Los Angeles. Entering the world of criminal mastermind Dave Purvis (William Talman), a man who has already pulled one impressive armored car robbery, every single moment of this venture is his plan.
Directing his right hand man, Benny McBride (Douglas Fowley), to form the rest of his team, the lackey finds lifelong perps Al Mapes (Steve Brodie) and Ace Foster (Gene Evans) to help with the job. Always careful with every step he takes, Purvis doesn’t like things written down – you should memorize them; doesn’t like labels. . . he even cuts off those in his shirts – that way there are no loose ends; he also constantly keeps on the move. . . this guy is extra cautious in every which way.
Now, you might be wondering why they have chosen Wrigley Field as their strike point. . . it is the last stop for the armored car – meaning that, it will contain all of the money from its trip. Though the group gets away with the crime, it doesn’t go off without a hitch. . . one of the gang getting hit with a slug in the gut – by persistent officer Lt. Jim Cordell (Charles McGraw). On the lam, can they nurse their injured compatriot back to health and continue their intricate plan, splitting the money and heading on their merry ways?
Characters that are as hard boiled as an egg, they talk the talk (an example finds McBride telling Purvis “Look Dave, I know she’s strictly high rent and I’m broke but, I can’t forget her that easy”), they walk the walk (I’ve never seen a disarming move quite like that of Purvis’ – after a punch to the gut, the on his knees foe is hit with a double slap to both ears. . . completely disorientating him). . . we’ll just have to find out if they crack under the pressure (see what I did there – egg humour at its best). One thing that may complicate the situation (which relates to the above quote) is McBride’s wife, burlesque dancer Yvonne LeDoux (Adele Jergens), a power and money hungry dame who is sneakily having an affair with the sharp dressing Purvis.
Featuring all of the off kilter angles, moody cinematographic shots (by Guy Roe), eerie music (Roy Webb), and crooked characters, as well as a single but very memorable duplicitous dame, Armored Car Robbery is a cheap and quick RKO film noir that hits all of the right notes. It lives for its action (explicit for the time), crime (detailed plans) and thrilling suspense. . . a trendsetter that pushed the boundaries of the Production Code and helped pave the way for The Asphalt Jungle and The Killing. Actually, it is based on a true robbery from 1934. Another nice touch. . . it was shot on location in Los Angeles (on top of Wrigley, you’ll also see the harbour, Long Beach’s oil derricks, as well as the Metropolitan Airport). So, I “Bet your bottom dollar you lose the blues in Los Angeles, Los Angeles”. . . it doesn’t work so well, in any case, propel yourself towards seeing this little know noir gem, you won’t be disappointed.