(1964) Too little remains of Ernest Hemingway's original short story about two killers entering a diner in director/producer Don Siegel's thriller, screenplay by Gene L. Coon and Nancy Wilson singing a Henry Mancini tune, "Too Little Time."

Wearing dark glasses and suits, Charlie Strom (Lee Marvin) and his younger partner Lee (Clu Gulager) walk into the Sage Home of the Blind, looking for Jerry Nichols, a sighted teacher. Informed moments before Charlie and Lee burst into his room that two thugs are after him, Jerry, who is actually the former race-car driver Johnny North (John Cassavetes), reacts with resignation to his fate.

In this re-imagining of Robert Siodmak's 1946 film, the back story is seen through Charlie's hard-boiled eyes, who after the contract hit - "He just stood there and took it" - for which an unknown party paid $25,000 after a big job went awry, wonders aloud to Lee: "What happened to the million?"

First they take a train to Miami for a visit with Johnny's former mechanic, Earl Sylvester (Claude Akins), whom they persuade to tell them about Johnny's last race and the accident in his Sylvester Cobra that ended his career along with the "cheap, thrill-happy dame," Sheila Farr (Angie Dickinson), "the wrecker," who distracted the driver for four days - "You're my east, west, south, and my North" - before the West Grand Prix in California. Earl had tried to dissuade Johnny - "You were for kicks" - from further involvement with her by telling him about her previous liaisons with a bullfighter in Mexico and a boxer in New York as well as her attachment to sugardaddy Jack Browning (Ronald Reagan), who paid the checks. Earl hadn't seen Johnny since then.

Determined to find out "what makes a man not run … rather die," plus get his hands on all the dough, Charlie searches for clues about the holdup gang. Next he and Lee follow a tip to see Mickey Farmer (Norman Fell), who'd been in on the heist, in New Orleans. They sweat more of the story out of Farmer, how Sheila convinced Browning to bring Johnny in as the driver in a caper to rob a mail truck of resort receipts. But first she had to convince Johnny of her serious affection for him - "What are you mixed up in?" he asked; "I'm mixed up in you" - before he'd come along.

Just before the heist, North slugged Browning in an altercation over Sheila: "After the job," threatened Browning, "we'll settle this, North." Just after the holdup, Johnny double crossed Browning, absconding with all the money.

One more journey takes Charlie and Lee to LA to pay a courtesy call on the big honcho of Browning Development Corp. through whom (more gentle persuasion) they also locate Sheila, who decides discussion with the hoodlums is preferable to defenestration. Charlie finally has his answer: "The only man who's not afraid to die is the one who's dead already."

This was Ronald Reagan's last appearance as an actor in a motion picture. In 1964 he'd switched from being a lifelong Democrat to a Republican campaigning for Barry Goldwater. Two years later he became governor of California.

Click here for links to places to buy or rent this movie in video and/or DVD format, or to buy the soundtrack, posters, books, even used videos, games, electronics and lots of other stuff. I suggest you shop at least two of these places before buying anything. Prices seem to vary continuously. For more information on this film, click on this link to The Internet Movie Database. Type in the name of the movie in the search box and press enter. You will be able to find background information on the film, the actors, and links to much more information.

Copyright © 2008 Patrick Ivers. All rights reserved.
Reproduced with the permission of the copyright holder.

Patrick Ivers can be reached via e-mail at .