Vincent Canelli is a sadistic killer who may not ride the lightening but instead ingests fatal amounts of hot lead, his just desserts. Hugo Fregonese directs this violent B movie melodrama like thin wild mercury, as condemned inmates escape from one death house and into another. DP Stanley Cortez’s exceptional work utilizes deep focus and some compound compositions that allow perfect focus as characters speak and react in frame without cutting to close up. Cortez combines an almost documentary, gritty feel with stylized noir bleakness and shadow to great effect. It’s complimentary to the mundane brutality of the narrative!
Canelli (Edward G. Robinson) is without remorse of conscience, a cruel death row convict without an ounce of kindness. Manning (Peter Graves) is another man awaiting his own fate on this Black Tuesday, condemned to death for killing a cop during $200,00 robbery, money which has never been recovered. When Canelli devises a plan to breakout of the cell block with the help of his moll Hatti (Jean Parker), he's going to bring Manning along for the payout! But there is no honor among thieves. Or killers.
The opening scene is brilliantly composed as Director Hugo Fregonese eschews an immediate credit sequence and instead depicts an ominous wall of iron bars and the lonely, echoing footsteps of the prison guard making his rounds. Another inmate takes up the rhythm and his mournful dirge sets the tone for the film. Then, when he cuts to a medium close-up of Canelli, we are introduced to a scouring, pugnacious criminal who paces like a caged beast. Brilliant! Edward G. Robinson plays a man without moral compass, a toxic narcissist who kills anyone who doesn’t serve his purpose. The story never tries to redeem Canelli, in fact it denounces him by displaying his violent actions in detail. Though Manning isn’t a knowing part of the escape plan, once he’s along for the ride he kills cops indiscriminately to save himself. However, his absolution comes with the eventual murder of his criminal compatriot and his suicide by cop. Though the escape seems far-fetched and improbable, the story rockets along toward its gunpowder climax. Good people die. Bad people die. And god sorts them out.
Final Grade: (B)
