(1950, b/w) It's any night in London; some guy is chasing after Harry Fabian (Richard Widmark), who owes five quid, and then waits after Harry goes into an apartment where he looks through a woman's purse for money. Based on Gerald Kersh's novel, director Jules Dassin's film noir was released in two versions, American with score by Franz Waxman (which this reviewer saw) and British, having the music composed by Benjamin Frankel and some modifications in character development. Mary (Gene Tierney), who works as a singing hostess at the Silver Fox nightclub, comes out of the bathroom asking: "Who are you running away from now?"

Clever Harry always has a line ready for any situation to deny or misdirect; he's ambitious for "ease and plenty" with a new scheme, something different every time, always "a sure thing." But Mary wants him to stick to something, save enough so that they can eventually get married and settle down. He insists: "I just want to be somebody." Mary borrows money from her neighbor Adam (Hugh Marlowe), who refers to Harry as "an artist without an art," to pay off the man in the street.

Out hustling clients for the Silver Fox, con-artist Harry gets another highly inflamed idea at a wrestling match when he overhears an argument between Mr Kristo (Herbert Lom) and his father Gregorius (Stanislaus Zbyszko) over Greco-Roman wrestling versus the cheap circus matches the son promotes. Excited about his new angle, Harry proposes the plan to the Silver Fox's owner, Phil Nosseross (Francis L. Sullivan), asking for an investment of £400, which Phil dismisses as just another "flight of fancy."

Determined to prove his worth, Harry says he'll get £200 elsewhere and come back for the matching funding: "I'll show everybody!" But after being unsuccessful at touching all his acquaintances in the underworld, Phil's wife Helen (Googie Withers), with her own scheme to get a license through Harry's contacts to open her own nightclub, gives him the money. When Harry returns with half the money, Phil, who has had a visit from Kristo's legal representative Mr Chilk, hands over the other £200 with the proviso that he be a silent partner. Both Phil and Kristo, each with a different motive, want Harry out of their way.

With his first promotion of a wrestling match ready for an audience, Harry goes to Phil for the necessary final infusion of cash to rent the arena. Phil threatens to back out of their partnership unless Harry finds a big name, like the Strangler (Mike Mazurki), to draw public attention because there's no mass appeal for Greco-Roman wrestling. However, the perversion of the classical sport is what so disgusted Gregorious, whose support Harry needs to protect himself from Kristo.

Never at a loss for some maneuver, Harry provokes a grudge match against the Strangler, convincing Gregorious to let his other son Nikolas "break this clown in half." Going back to Phil with a hot deal in place, but needing another £200 for the Strangler's fee, Harry, so close to getting on top, finally learns of the conspiracy against him. "You are a wonder," Phil admits, believing Harry's after Helen, "but you don't have the money … You're a dead man."

Having nowhere to hide, on the run again with Kristo's reward of £1,000 on his head, Harry, after having mistreated Mary, makes his final bold ploy when she comes to save him.

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 .