28 reviews
John Payne makes smart his move to the newborn noir cycle
Like Dick Powell, John Payne was another crooner and hoofer from 30s musicals a light leading man who saw new opportunities waiting in the changing Hollywood of the late 40s and seized them. Eschewing also-ran roles in prestige pictures (The Razor's Edge, Miracle on 34th Street), he found he was better off taking top billing in the grittier Bs of the newborn noir cycle. It was a smart move. With rugged good looks but no glamour boy, a strong, silent type who didn't make it a gimmick, he turned into a plausible and appealing Average Joe, without ever fading into the generic. In the half-dozen or so noirs he starred in, he straddled both sides of the law, though he usually found himself stranded in a no-man's land in the middle.
In Larceny, he's one of a gang of con-men led by Dan Duryea. They've just finished a grift in Miami Beach, so Payne is sent to the far coast, to `Mission City,' to lay groundwork for the next job. He poses as an old service buddy of a slain war hero so the widow (Joan Caulfield) will spearhead a fund-raising drive for a memorial sort of a posh Boy's Town for underprivileged youth that, of course, is nothing more than a scheme for bilking donors.
But that mischievous cherub Cupid throws a few monkey wrenches into the works. First off, Payne starts developing protective feelings for Caulfield and, more slowly, she for him (she's been playing Vestal Virgin at her husband's altar for so long she finds her own feelings a betrayal). Even worse, Duryea's moll, a `boa constrictor in high heels' (Shelley Winters, in full blonde-bombshell mode) carries such a torch for Payne that she follows him out west, by bus yet. The sicker Payne grows of her, the needier and more reckless she gets their unstable chemistry threatens to blow them both sky high. The plot executes several quick turns when the possessive Duryea shows up (as does the victim of the Miami scam), when Caulfield reveals that she plans to put up all the money herself, and when Winters decides to take matters into her own pistol-packin' hand....
The violence in Larceny is toned way down, confined mainly to Winters' being slapped around (but she slaps back). It relies instead on a tight script, bristling with smart-mouthed cracks: `[Winters] is like a high-tension wire. Once you grab on, you can't let go even if you want to;' `You kiss like you're paying off an election bet;' `I said I'm sorry but I'm not going to write it on the blackboard 100 times.' It allows Percy Helton and Dorothy Hart space enough to flesh out their small parts (Hart does a scrumptious riff on Dorothy Malone's bookstore clerk in The Big Sleep). All in all, Larceny proves a congenial vehicle for Payne's welcome arrival in dark city.
In Larceny, he's one of a gang of con-men led by Dan Duryea. They've just finished a grift in Miami Beach, so Payne is sent to the far coast, to `Mission City,' to lay groundwork for the next job. He poses as an old service buddy of a slain war hero so the widow (Joan Caulfield) will spearhead a fund-raising drive for a memorial sort of a posh Boy's Town for underprivileged youth that, of course, is nothing more than a scheme for bilking donors.
But that mischievous cherub Cupid throws a few monkey wrenches into the works. First off, Payne starts developing protective feelings for Caulfield and, more slowly, she for him (she's been playing Vestal Virgin at her husband's altar for so long she finds her own feelings a betrayal). Even worse, Duryea's moll, a `boa constrictor in high heels' (Shelley Winters, in full blonde-bombshell mode) carries such a torch for Payne that she follows him out west, by bus yet. The sicker Payne grows of her, the needier and more reckless she gets their unstable chemistry threatens to blow them both sky high. The plot executes several quick turns when the possessive Duryea shows up (as does the victim of the Miami scam), when Caulfield reveals that she plans to put up all the money herself, and when Winters decides to take matters into her own pistol-packin' hand....
The violence in Larceny is toned way down, confined mainly to Winters' being slapped around (but she slaps back). It relies instead on a tight script, bristling with smart-mouthed cracks: `[Winters] is like a high-tension wire. Once you grab on, you can't let go even if you want to;' `You kiss like you're paying off an election bet;' `I said I'm sorry but I'm not going to write it on the blackboard 100 times.' It allows Percy Helton and Dorothy Hart space enough to flesh out their small parts (Hart does a scrumptious riff on Dorothy Malone's bookstore clerk in The Big Sleep). All in all, Larceny proves a congenial vehicle for Payne's welcome arrival in dark city.
Excellent Noir
John Payne breaks into noir
"Larceny" from 1948 is a kind of an all over the place noir. It starts with a group of con men led by Silky (Dan Duryea) lousing up a scam and being forced to think of something else. He and his cronies come up with the idea of sending Rick (John Payne) to seduce a wealthy war widow (Joan Caulfield) into building a huge war memorial in her husband's memory. He has to lie and say her husband was his best pal in the service.
Meanwhile, Silky's girlfriend Tory (Winters) seems anxious to be with Payne and gets in the way at every turn. Silky isn't happy about this, which could be dangerous.
Payne meanwhile falls for Caulfield and vice versa. It turns into a real mess.
It was okay. Every woman in the film - Caulfield, Winters, Patricia Alphin, who plays a waitress, and Dorothy Hart all act as if they've never seen a man before when they meet Payne. He was handsome, but the characters seemed more like aggressive women from a later era.
The exception would be Caulfield, whose character was more subtle. Dorothy Hart didn't have much of a career, but she was absolutely stunning.
Meanwhile, Silky's girlfriend Tory (Winters) seems anxious to be with Payne and gets in the way at every turn. Silky isn't happy about this, which could be dangerous.
Payne meanwhile falls for Caulfield and vice versa. It turns into a real mess.
It was okay. Every woman in the film - Caulfield, Winters, Patricia Alphin, who plays a waitress, and Dorothy Hart all act as if they've never seen a man before when they meet Payne. He was handsome, but the characters seemed more like aggressive women from a later era.
The exception would be Caulfield, whose character was more subtle. Dorothy Hart didn't have much of a career, but she was absolutely stunning.
Funm, campy noir
When I went to see this lesser known noir, the person introducing it described it as "almost a parody" of this kind of film and said not to take it too seriously. Nevertheless, it is a film about con artists and their techniques, and I love those. Especially well showcased is the technique of letting a mark think something is his or her own idea, and people are always more determined to do things that they think are their own ideas. The story features a group of globetrotting, high-rolling grifters led by John Payne and noir regular Dan Duryea, who decide to target a wealthy but naive young war widow(Joan Caulfield) with a scheme to build a youth center memorializing her husband. This necessitates Payne pretending to be a buddy of her late husband, who in reality, he had never met. At first the plan is to raise money from wealthy friends, but she then decides to bankroll the whole project herself. Things are further complicated when a sometime girlfriend of both of the men, played by a tough-as-nails young Shelly Winters, refuses to stay under wraps. This film seems to have been largely forgotten, which is a shame.
- dellascott2004
- Oct 29, 2005
- Permalink
Near noir
While 'Larceny' has a cast of nasty, amoral characters, those expecting a traditional noir with the interesting camera work and lighting might be disappointed. However, it does have a fair bit of suspense, a few twists and turns and some fine acting, so I'd rate it slightly above average.
The plot revolves around a group of fraudsters who come up with elaborate fundraising schemes to bilk hundreds of thousands from wealthy investors then skip town; frighteningly relevant to today's mainstream business world. And they're very successful until one guy meets a dame and falls in love.
Unfortunately, the love story isn't very convincing, nor is the main character's transformation from amoral scumbag to upstanding citizen, which really makes everything else seem a bit implausible.
Regardless, there are some suspenseful moments, you do feel for John Payne's predicament, and the acting is generally quite good from Payne, Dan Duryea, character actor Percy Helton and especially Shelly Winters as the superbly annoying scorned femme fatale. She's good at being bad.
Anyway, if you're a completist like me, it's worth a go.
The plot revolves around a group of fraudsters who come up with elaborate fundraising schemes to bilk hundreds of thousands from wealthy investors then skip town; frighteningly relevant to today's mainstream business world. And they're very successful until one guy meets a dame and falls in love.
Unfortunately, the love story isn't very convincing, nor is the main character's transformation from amoral scumbag to upstanding citizen, which really makes everything else seem a bit implausible.
Regardless, there are some suspenseful moments, you do feel for John Payne's predicament, and the acting is generally quite good from Payne, Dan Duryea, character actor Percy Helton and especially Shelly Winters as the superbly annoying scorned femme fatale. She's good at being bad.
Anyway, if you're a completist like me, it's worth a go.
- mikeburdick
- Jan 24, 2023
- Permalink
Larceny
Poor old war widow "Deb" (Joan Caulfield) is hoodwinked into donating her savings to build a memorial to her late husband by the sharp "Rick" (John Payne). It turns out that there is no such edifice, but "Rick" isn't able to be quite as cold and calculating as usual. He starts to fall for this dignified and respectable woman. That's a risky scenario, for his boss "Silky" (Dan Duryea) just wants the cash, and that's that. It doesn't help either that his bosses gal "Tory" (Shelley Winters) is pretty flaky, also quite keen on "Rick" and is quite shrewd at manipulation, too! Payne was never exactly versatile nor, for that matter, was the usually wooden Duryea but they do well enough with this solid story and whilst there is an inevitability to the ending, George Sherman manages to keep this well paced for 90 minutes and Winters plays her part really quite effectively. The lighting could have done with some extra wattage at times, but it is still good watch.
- CinemaSerf
- Dec 2, 2022
- Permalink
Good Film; Questionable Ending - Larceny
There is nothing more frustrating for a critic to review than a good film that goes slightly awry at the end. I will not give you any spoilers, but suffice it to say that Payne and Winters do a pretty good job, along with Duryea in convincing us that the world is divided among the rotten and the honorable. And then there are those who are stuck somewhere in between. The ending did not ring true to me, but others may have found it more convincing. See this one for yourself and decide if you think it was handled correctly.
Payne, who normally played goody-goody roles in most of his other films, is, at times, convincing as a confidence man, but at other times falls back into his Mr. Nice Guy persona. Maybe that was the intent of the writers, but I was not buying it.
Payne, who normally played goody-goody roles in most of his other films, is, at times, convincing as a confidence man, but at other times falls back into his Mr. Nice Guy persona. Maybe that was the intent of the writers, but I was not buying it.
- arthur_tafero
- Jan 5, 2023
- Permalink
Not Great, But Not Bad at All
Above average, minor crime film, well-directed by George Sherman. The Noir credentials of LARCENY can be disputed, but we can see John Payne's character as trapped by circumstances of his own choosing. As successful con-man, with a special talent for romancing rich women, he meets his match when something like real love comes along.
Payne is good at playing the conflicted states of the character. We've also got Dan Duryea, at his best, playing a bad guy, Shelley Winters, a razor-tongued harridan, and Percy Helton in a rare, somewhat substantial role as hotel manager. Dan O'Herlihy seems an odd choice. His British accent and gentle manner seem at odds with the confidence racket (but maybe that's the point). The dialog is quite good all the way through, with some quotable lines.
"Stop twisting my arm! People will think we're married!"
"Tory's like a high tension wire - once you grab on, you can't let go... even if you want to... and I don't want to. I like Tory. I like her a lot."
Not essential, or even very memorable, but you could do worse than to see LARCENY, now nicely transferred on blu-ray.
Payne is good at playing the conflicted states of the character. We've also got Dan Duryea, at his best, playing a bad guy, Shelley Winters, a razor-tongued harridan, and Percy Helton in a rare, somewhat substantial role as hotel manager. Dan O'Herlihy seems an odd choice. His British accent and gentle manner seem at odds with the confidence racket (but maybe that's the point). The dialog is quite good all the way through, with some quotable lines.
"Stop twisting my arm! People will think we're married!"
"Tory's like a high tension wire - once you grab on, you can't let go... even if you want to... and I don't want to. I like Tory. I like her a lot."
Not essential, or even very memorable, but you could do worse than to see LARCENY, now nicely transferred on blu-ray.
A dandy noir film.
I wasn't too surprised I enjoyed "Larceny". After all, I love noir and I love Dan Duryea, as he played the slimiest and most menacing villains in these films...and "Larceny" features both.
Rick Mason (John Payne) works with a gang of cons run by Silky (Duryea). The gang has two serious problems despite their successes. First, Silky's girl, Tory (Shelley Winters) is poison...and rather emotionally imbalanced. Secondly, Silky isn't exactly a rousing endorsement for sound mental health! Again and again, Tory chases after Rick and Rick rebuffs her...and time and time again, Silky assumes the worst.
The gang's next caper involves a grieving war widow (Joan Caulfield). Rick pretends that he was good friends with the widow's husband during the war and he quickly ingratiates himself with her. The plan is to sell her on creating a giant memorial to her dead husband...and then pocket the money and run. The problem is that over time, Rick finds he's actually falling for her...which is complicated when the highly unstable Tory shows up...and Silky soon follows.
This film doesn't have the great camerawork and dark shadows you'd want in the best noir, but it does have plenty of slimy characters and intrigue. A very engaging and well written film and ample proof that later in his career, Payne excelled at some non-pretty boy roles.
Rick Mason (John Payne) works with a gang of cons run by Silky (Duryea). The gang has two serious problems despite their successes. First, Silky's girl, Tory (Shelley Winters) is poison...and rather emotionally imbalanced. Secondly, Silky isn't exactly a rousing endorsement for sound mental health! Again and again, Tory chases after Rick and Rick rebuffs her...and time and time again, Silky assumes the worst.
The gang's next caper involves a grieving war widow (Joan Caulfield). Rick pretends that he was good friends with the widow's husband during the war and he quickly ingratiates himself with her. The plan is to sell her on creating a giant memorial to her dead husband...and then pocket the money and run. The problem is that over time, Rick finds he's actually falling for her...which is complicated when the highly unstable Tory shows up...and Silky soon follows.
This film doesn't have the great camerawork and dark shadows you'd want in the best noir, but it does have plenty of slimy characters and intrigue. A very engaging and well written film and ample proof that later in his career, Payne excelled at some non-pretty boy roles.
- planktonrules
- Jan 24, 2020
- Permalink
From rags to riches?
Based on Lois Eby and John Leming novel The velvet fleece and excellently adapted to the screen, the movie benefits from a well written script by Herb Margolis, Lou Morheim and William Bowers and from excellen performances by the whole cast. Not only John Payne and Dan Duryea provide their characters with solid credible acting. Also Shelley Winters does a good acting job as the femme fatale obsessed with Payne. She was an actress who had deserved more subtle roles that the ones she usually played. After shining in musicals, light comedies and adventure movies, Payne did several interesting film noirs with Phil Karlson: 99 river st. And excellent Kansas city confidential. Always credible, he conferred a solid presence to his works. This movie is not an exception mainly thanks to great dialogue lines. Screenwriter Bowers also did the script of several other good noirs like The web, Criss Cross, and Cry danger. Payne, Duryea and two more partners are confident men who work scamming rich people. When their last job fails they decide to go for a young wealthy war widow. But problems begin when, while payne is trying to seduce her, Duryea's girl Shelley Winters tries to seduce Payne - who is falling in love with the widow - causing complications and leading the job to fail. Deserves a watch.
- MegaSuperstar
- Nov 27, 2021
- Permalink
THE STING + Film Noir = LARCENY!
Shelley Winters: "I'm sorry, Rick. What can I do to help you?"
John Payne: "Stay away from me."
Shelley Winters: "I mean besides the impossible."
A con man's seduction of a war widow is part of a larger scheme to bilk a small town out of a fortune. But not everything goes to plan.
I cannot believe this sensational vintage noir isn't better known. It's taut as a garrote, and there are twists you won't see coming.
Plus: The dialogue is great, the actors tops, and who knew Shelley Winters was such a knockout?
Catch this one!
John Payne: "Stay away from me."
Shelley Winters: "I mean besides the impossible."
A con man's seduction of a war widow is part of a larger scheme to bilk a small town out of a fortune. But not everything goes to plan.
I cannot believe this sensational vintage noir isn't better known. It's taut as a garrote, and there are twists you won't see coming.
Plus: The dialogue is great, the actors tops, and who knew Shelley Winters was such a knockout?
Catch this one!
- filmklassik
- Apr 9, 2019
- Permalink
Nice Script, But Depressing Instead Of Tragic
It's a gang of high-class confidence artists run by Dan Duryea. With John Payne to keep the women happy, they hit on a plan to use him as the roper to steal $100,000 from wealthy Joan Caulfield, convincing her that he's a war buddy of her deceased husband. There are immediate complications when Duryea's girl friend, Shelley Winters, prefers Payne. Instead of flying to Havana, she follows Payne to a small suburban town where they're so wealthy they go slumming in Pasadena.
It's a dark movie from the get-go and everyone is good, but I found it depressing. I'm a fan of movies about con men, but it's handled with a depressive air from the beginning. Ambitious John Payne was trying to stretch himself, and the role is pretty good, but he's a bit monotonous in his role, as are most of the others. Dan O'Herlihy, as one of his confederates, has a few brief moments to shine and does so, but the movie, while always competent, turns into a soap opera with guns.
It's a dark movie from the get-go and everyone is good, but I found it depressing. I'm a fan of movies about con men, but it's handled with a depressive air from the beginning. Ambitious John Payne was trying to stretch himself, and the role is pretty good, but he's a bit monotonous in his role, as are most of the others. Dan O'Herlihy, as one of his confederates, has a few brief moments to shine and does so, but the movie, while always competent, turns into a soap opera with guns.
Escaping from the past is a real Payne.
- mark.waltz
- Feb 21, 2017
- Permalink
A husband's memory.
Some soldiers coming home after WW2 were not as honest and virtuous as the vast majority ;fleecing the rich may be a way to make up for the best years of their life they gave to their country.
Rick is an ambiguous character: when he delivers his speech in front of the youth and later when he speaks to Deb in the car , ,although he knows the war memorial is phony and a swindle , his words do ring true :in a way,he may be sincere .Deb is a generous person ,par excellence the good girl (Tory being the bad one) , who never got over the loss of her husband killed in action and who knows statistics about juvenile delinquency :her sports center would be the solution ; but she does not know life ,and the man she idealizes is perhaps not the virtuous gent whose name she wants to remain engraved in memories .
The cast is excellent : the viewer does know if Rick puts on an act or if he approves of Deb's plan he almost regrets not to be able to carry on;Duryea is true to form as the bad guy ;Winters makes the best of a rather melodramatic part .
Rick is an ambiguous character: when he delivers his speech in front of the youth and later when he speaks to Deb in the car , ,although he knows the war memorial is phony and a swindle , his words do ring true :in a way,he may be sincere .Deb is a generous person ,par excellence the good girl (Tory being the bad one) , who never got over the loss of her husband killed in action and who knows statistics about juvenile delinquency :her sports center would be the solution ; but she does not know life ,and the man she idealizes is perhaps not the virtuous gent whose name she wants to remain engraved in memories .
The cast is excellent : the viewer does know if Rick puts on an act or if he approves of Deb's plan he almost regrets not to be able to carry on;Duryea is true to form as the bad guy ;Winters makes the best of a rather melodramatic part .
- ulicknormanowen
- Feb 8, 2022
- Permalink
Money, money, money
Fraudster Dan Duryea (Silky) heads an operation which includes John Payne (Rick) as his main player. They fleece the wealthy by convincing their targets to raise money for a false project and then disappear with the cash. Their newest mark is war widow Joan Caulfield (Deborah) and it is Payne's task to befriend her and gain her trust. So, off he goes - game on. Added into the mix, Duryea has a brash girlfriend - Shelley Winters (Tory) - who is having an affair with Payne and she is not shy in speaking her mind. Duryea is the jealous type so Payne had better watch himself on this front. All seems to be going well for Payne...
The main players in this film all give good performances. If you are familiar with the films of Miss Winters you may well guess something about her and you'd be correct. She delivers some great dialogue and is genuinely funny with it towards the end of the film. Payne should definitely have nothing to do with her.
The film keeps your attention and it is a great way to learn how to fleece the rich. There are some very good pointers and important rules of psychological engagement that are set out. After watching this, you may well feel rather accomplished in this field. But do you have the heart to carry out this type of mission? Unfortunately, I don't. And anyway, love conquers all and may well be your downfall. But if you don't have a heart....this film may prove educational.
The main players in this film all give good performances. If you are familiar with the films of Miss Winters you may well guess something about her and you'd be correct. She delivers some great dialogue and is genuinely funny with it towards the end of the film. Payne should definitely have nothing to do with her.
The film keeps your attention and it is a great way to learn how to fleece the rich. There are some very good pointers and important rules of psychological engagement that are set out. After watching this, you may well feel rather accomplished in this field. But do you have the heart to carry out this type of mission? Unfortunately, I don't. And anyway, love conquers all and may well be your downfall. But if you don't have a heart....this film may prove educational.
Exciting noir
Much different from his nice guy Mr. Gailey in Miracle on 34th Street the previous year, John Payne plays a villain in Larceny. This fun film noir features John and Dan Duryea as con artists who pick the innocent, pious widow John Caufield as their next target. They plan to swindle her into investing in their "charity", and John puts on the moves to help cloud her judgment. Meanwhile, Dan's girlfriend, Shelley Winters starts to get jealous when it seems that John's judgment gets clouded - she's got a crush on him and doesn't want Joan to take him away. While she still seems new to the screen, Shelley does assert a memorable presence. She's a tough moll with great one-liners to rattle off. She finds a photograph of another girl in John's wallet and gets upset. John insists she's his kid sister, and Shelley replies, "If she's your kid sister, I'm a boa constrictor in high heels." John admits she is, and when she slaps his face, he slaps her right back. Talk about exciting!
If you've seen all the popular noirs too many times and are in the mood for something new, check out Larceny. Dan is always a fun, slimy bad guy, and John gets to show a different side to him. Joan is as sweet as Shelley is salty; try to figure out who he's going to pick!
If you've seen all the popular noirs too many times and are in the mood for something new, check out Larceny. Dan is always a fun, slimy bad guy, and John gets to show a different side to him. Joan is as sweet as Shelley is salty; try to figure out who he's going to pick!
- HotToastyRag
- Apr 12, 2024
- Permalink
Shelley Winters Steals the Show
The film noir elements of LARCENY are well-covered in the other reviews, so I'm going to focus on how sensational Shelley Winters is in the bad girl role. Dan Duryea is obsessed with her, while Shelley is obsessed with handsome John Payne, who seems indifferent to her charms. It's the biggest hole in the script, since Shelley is slinky, sexy and sultry. How John could prefer the insipid, bland, weepy Joan Caulfield over the firecracker Winters is a mystery only a screenwriter could devise. It's easy to see from her assured performance that Shelley was definitely on her way up ... she would enjoy a brief sex symbol period before embarking on her two-time Oscar winning career as a dramatic actress and earned her place in film history.
- leifhelland
- Apr 1, 2024
- Permalink
One of the rarest George Sherman's crime films
I don't mean George Sherman has made more crime films easier to find, but on the contrary he has made not other crime films, than this one, except maybe THE SLEEPING CITY, a semi documentary expose taking place in a hospital. But I higly prefer this one, co starring John Payne and Dan Duryea in a true crime film, directed by a western specialist, and a prolific one. Dan Duryea and John Payne literally steal the whole show by their presence and performances, and Shelley Winters as a gun moll is so exciting; she was rarely so thin in her later films. A good gem to catch from a promising George Sherman.
- searchanddestroy-1
- Feb 17, 2024
- Permalink
In Larceny Duryea plays a typecast con man, Payne plays a mournful crook and Winters a B-girl not too bad at all!!
Larceny is fine B-Noir picture, therefore has some fails undermining the whole presentation as the plot is preposterous, John Payne as a bad guy didn't a good choice, somehow he was in wrong side, Joan Caulfield is naïve and cold and George Sherman fits better in westerns pictures, however the crook Dan Duryea is unbeatable in this field also Shelley Winters as a B-girl is fabulous, still young she was gorgeous playing the femme fatale.
As said before the plot is beyond of mindless, then when a major partner Walter Vanderline (Nicholas Joy) discovers that his minority partner Silky Randall (Dan Duryea) building a high class club at Miami Beach is a hoax then Walter fires them, actually Silky leads a small group which his second in command is Rick Maxon (John Payne) Silky figures out that the only way to stand there is through a blackmail, Walter has a kinship with war widow Deborah Owens Clark (Joan Caulfield) in California, the plan is spoils her integrity where Walter will consider his decision to break up the partnership henceforth.
The plan is quite simple Rick approach of Deborah pretending be a former friend at war and raise founds to build a memorial for his late husband also an Institution to get shelter for poor children, when she got the money Rick will steal the funds ashaming her afterwards and using Deborah's disgrace to overturn Walter's decision, well the things didn't happened as Sulky though, his sexy and compulsive girlfriend Tory (Shelley Winters) would rather Rick instead Sulky, then she sneak to California to harass Rick and forget the whole thing.
In this poisoned environment the picture unfolds, Larceny is average picture, due by strong presence of the typecast con Dan Duryea, also improves by the fine performance of the kind-hearted Percy Helton like always as supporting casting, already John Payne that usually plays straight guys reveals his good-nature at long last.
Thanks for reading.
Resume:
First watch: 2023 / How many: 1 / Source: DVD / Rating: 7.5.
As said before the plot is beyond of mindless, then when a major partner Walter Vanderline (Nicholas Joy) discovers that his minority partner Silky Randall (Dan Duryea) building a high class club at Miami Beach is a hoax then Walter fires them, actually Silky leads a small group which his second in command is Rick Maxon (John Payne) Silky figures out that the only way to stand there is through a blackmail, Walter has a kinship with war widow Deborah Owens Clark (Joan Caulfield) in California, the plan is spoils her integrity where Walter will consider his decision to break up the partnership henceforth.
The plan is quite simple Rick approach of Deborah pretending be a former friend at war and raise founds to build a memorial for his late husband also an Institution to get shelter for poor children, when she got the money Rick will steal the funds ashaming her afterwards and using Deborah's disgrace to overturn Walter's decision, well the things didn't happened as Sulky though, his sexy and compulsive girlfriend Tory (Shelley Winters) would rather Rick instead Sulky, then she sneak to California to harass Rick and forget the whole thing.
In this poisoned environment the picture unfolds, Larceny is average picture, due by strong presence of the typecast con Dan Duryea, also improves by the fine performance of the kind-hearted Percy Helton like always as supporting casting, already John Payne that usually plays straight guys reveals his good-nature at long last.
Thanks for reading.
Resume:
First watch: 2023 / How many: 1 / Source: DVD / Rating: 7.5.
- elo-equipamentos
- May 6, 2023
- Permalink
The big swindle
Watching Larceny I thought the way the film was building toward the climax I was
sure of a sentimental ending. But far from it with this film. What we get is a
crackerjack and original realistic ending in this noir film.
John Payne plays a smooth talking confidence man who is part of a gang headed by Dan Duryea. Duryea has set up a big score and Payne has to romance war widow Joan Caulfield who thought her hero husband walked on water. The con involves swindling Caulfield ot of money to build a youth center for the town's young people and Payne poses as a GI buddy of the late husband.
Payne's working a few cons here. He's also going out with the sultry and possessive Shelley Winters who is two timing Duryea. In the end though he falls for Caulfield and that sets up the climax.
Shelley Winters also has one of her good career roles in Larceny. The kind of woman that ought to come with a warning label. And Duryea gives us one of his classic bad guy roles as well.
The script is a fine piece of writing and the director gets some great performances out of his ensemble cast. Do not miss this one, it's one of the best noirs out there.
John Payne plays a smooth talking confidence man who is part of a gang headed by Dan Duryea. Duryea has set up a big score and Payne has to romance war widow Joan Caulfield who thought her hero husband walked on water. The con involves swindling Caulfield ot of money to build a youth center for the town's young people and Payne poses as a GI buddy of the late husband.
Payne's working a few cons here. He's also going out with the sultry and possessive Shelley Winters who is two timing Duryea. In the end though he falls for Caulfield and that sets up the climax.
Shelley Winters also has one of her good career roles in Larceny. The kind of woman that ought to come with a warning label. And Duryea gives us one of his classic bad guy roles as well.
The script is a fine piece of writing and the director gets some great performances out of his ensemble cast. Do not miss this one, it's one of the best noirs out there.
- bkoganbing
- Mar 1, 2021
- Permalink
Snappy & Pithy Dialog High-Light Noir High-Stakes Con-Game..Along With the Banter...Shelly Winters Steals
Shapely Shelly Winters Beginning Her Career as a High-Powered "Dame".
Here She is a Mouthy Dame, Hits-Back, and is a Force Likely to Botch the Larcenous "Game" Afoot by Gangsters Dan Duryea, as the Head-Honcho, and John Payne as the Woman-Trap...
"I know how we can do that, there's a Secretary that thinks I stepped out of a dream."
Payne's Magnetic Looks and Silver Tongue Woos Woman with Ease, Including the Main-Mark, Joan Caufield, a Grieving War-Widow Ripe for the Picking, a Hash-Slinger, a Secretary, and the Aforementioned Moll, a Blonde with a Fur-Coat, an Attitude, and a Gun.
Duryea and the Rest of the Larcenous Bunch have No Morals, and are Out for the Take Period. Regardless of Heartbroken War-Widow or the Youth Association that are the Victims.
Payne, on the other hand, Slowly is Shown to Have some Scruples", and Things Get Complicated.
The Film is Propelled by a Witty, Wordy, Script Filled with Conversations of a Wide-Ranging Way of Philosophizing, Moralizing, and Behavior Among the Folks.
It's Done with some Minimal Norish Lighting Flourishes, but for the Most Part it's the Personalities of Duryea, Payne, and Winters that Carry the Noir Banter.
Slightly Above Average for its Type and is Definitely...
Worth a Watch.
Here She is a Mouthy Dame, Hits-Back, and is a Force Likely to Botch the Larcenous "Game" Afoot by Gangsters Dan Duryea, as the Head-Honcho, and John Payne as the Woman-Trap...
"I know how we can do that, there's a Secretary that thinks I stepped out of a dream."
Payne's Magnetic Looks and Silver Tongue Woos Woman with Ease, Including the Main-Mark, Joan Caufield, a Grieving War-Widow Ripe for the Picking, a Hash-Slinger, a Secretary, and the Aforementioned Moll, a Blonde with a Fur-Coat, an Attitude, and a Gun.
Duryea and the Rest of the Larcenous Bunch have No Morals, and are Out for the Take Period. Regardless of Heartbroken War-Widow or the Youth Association that are the Victims.
Payne, on the other hand, Slowly is Shown to Have some Scruples", and Things Get Complicated.
The Film is Propelled by a Witty, Wordy, Script Filled with Conversations of a Wide-Ranging Way of Philosophizing, Moralizing, and Behavior Among the Folks.
It's Done with some Minimal Norish Lighting Flourishes, but for the Most Part it's the Personalities of Duryea, Payne, and Winters that Carry the Noir Banter.
Slightly Above Average for its Type and is Definitely...
Worth a Watch.
- LeonLouisRicci
- Aug 18, 2022
- Permalink
Slick, Good Looking Production
- maiasmarky
- Feb 6, 2023
- Permalink
I think this was written for Cary Grant...
John Payne is basically playing a Cary Grant part of a devilishly delightful con man, but Payne plays it straight. The lies he can tell under the most heart-wrenching circumstances are breath taking. The "tension" of the film is not really based on the money or the time. The ever-increasingly cruel lies Payne's character forces himself to tell, right up to the climax, is what "turns the screw." But, without the little gleam in Cary's lovable scoundrel eyes...On the other hand, Shelley Winters is delightfully DANGEROUS. Dan Duryea is thick as thieves. And speaking as a retired fraud investigator myself, I'd say it's a pretty realistic depiction of a gang of cold-blooded sociopaths. But overall, I think they simply couldn't make up their minds what this movie was "about." It could have been a sappy melodrama, or a snappy noir comedy. But, it's not quite a dramedy. Not quite a classic. Absolutely worth watching.
- tomhoranlu
- Nov 9, 2023
- Permalink
Less than the sum of its parts. Shelley Winters steals the soap.
Dan Duryea is convincing as the boss of a gang of real estate con artists, Shelley Winters is convincing as the borderline psychopathic moll, Joan Caulfield is convincing as the tragically demented war widow, and the rest of the female cast acquit themselves well in finding the weak-chinned, balding, broad-shouldered, woman-beating John Payne irresistible.
I kept wishing Mitchum, or maybe Alan Ladd , or Dick Powell even, had played the male lead, because John Payne, bless him, seems to be stuck in the1930s Hollywood paradigm. Plenty of calculating nastiness, but no sexiness whatever. And frankly, he phones it in.
Worth watching for a weird glimpse of a white, white, post WWII California world of upperclass grift, but as entertainment, Larceny gradually becomes less and less likeable. The ending attempts to be unpredictable, but all that buildup and it's deus ex machina, basically.
I repeat; not an entertaining film, but not without interest. Nice cars.
I kept wishing Mitchum, or maybe Alan Ladd , or Dick Powell even, had played the male lead, because John Payne, bless him, seems to be stuck in the1930s Hollywood paradigm. Plenty of calculating nastiness, but no sexiness whatever. And frankly, he phones it in.
Worth watching for a weird glimpse of a white, white, post WWII California world of upperclass grift, but as entertainment, Larceny gradually becomes less and less likeable. The ending attempts to be unpredictable, but all that buildup and it's deus ex machina, basically.
I repeat; not an entertaining film, but not without interest. Nice cars.
Rotten scoundrels doing their best to botch a job by blunders