Wednesday, April 11, 2018

HIGHWAY DRAGNET 1954 (KINO) BLU-RAY

This little film was a surprise release and it gets a top notch Blu-ray treatment.

Richard Conte stars as a Korean War vet returning from the war. He is accused of killing a bar girl he was seen talking to and flees from the police.

He hitches a ride with a female photographer, Mrs. Cummings (Joan Bennett) and her friend Susan Willis (Wanda Hendrix). Conte's character of Jim Henry tries to convice the women he is innocent but needs time to prove it.

Susan is willing to listen, but Mrs. Cummings makes several attempts to turn him over to the police. Det. Lt. Joe White Eagle (Reed Hadley) is in hot pursuit and is determined to arrest Jim.

This is a well made little film noir that I caught on late night TV years ago on CBN and had recorded it onto VHS. The cast is a great assembly of actors and actresses from a period I remember and love so well.

Nathan Juran directed and Roger Corman co-wrote and co-produced this gem. Conte is a standout as always ans Joan Bennett is perfect for the always uptight Mrs. Cummings who has a secret or two of her own. Wanda Hendrix also works very well as the young woman who slowly falls for Conte's paranoid Jim.

Reed Hadley does a good job as the over anxious Detective who wants to arrest and convict without question or hesitation. I was really surprised to see this was going to be released on Blu-ray. A great choice from Kino and a very welcome one.

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