*All times are PT. Please check your local listings to confirm dates and times.
Saturday, January 31, 9:00 PM & Sunday, February 1, 7:00 AM
TALK ABOUT A STRANGER (1952): Small town preteen Billy Gray suspects that his new unfriendly neighbor Matlock poisoned his puppy. His accusation sets off a maelstrom of suspicion and hostility towards Matlock with dangerous results. Cinematography by the renowned noir cinematographer John Alton. Dir. David Bradley
Sunday, February 1, 1:00 AM
DEAD RINGER (1964): In this late era noir, Bette Davis stars as twins, the rich and mean Margaret and the other poor and put-upon spinster Edith meet after many years at the funeral of Margaret’s husband Frank. Edith snaps when she discovers from Margaret why Frank dumped her and married Margaret instead. Edith shoots her sister, takes her place and tries to make “Edith’s” death look like a suicide. Edith's boyfriend, police sergeant Jim Hobbson (Karl Malden) and Margaret's lover Tony (Peter Lawford) soon complicates things. Dir. Paul Henreid
Friday, February 6, 10:30 AM – 5:00 PM
10:30 AM
TEN LITTLE INDIANS (1966): This adaptation of the classic Agatha Christie novel (aka And Then There Were None), transplants the story of ten strangers brought to a modern house on an isolated English island to face death for their previously unpunished crimes of murder to an Austrian castle in the Alps. I have no idea why. Christopher Lee provided the pre-recorder gramophone voice of Mr. U N. Owen, the strangers’ absent host. Dir. George Pollock
12:15 PM
LOOK IN ANY WINDOW (1961): The odd behavior of teenage voyeur Craig (Paul Anka) escalates over the Fourth of July weekend. The suburban ideal of his life is a lie he can no longer endure. A sensationalist melodrama with some heartful moments and standout performances by Ruth Roman as Craig’s mother and Jack Cassidy as the womanizing father of the girl he likes. Dir. William Alland
1:45 PM
DOOR-TO-DOOR MANIAC (a.k.a FIVE MINUTES TO LIVE) (1961): Johnny Cash (who also wrote and sang the titles song) stars in this late era noir as a dangerous criminal Johnny Cabbot tasked by his partner (Vic Tabyback) to kidnap a bank president’s wife. Things get complicated when the banker reveals that he has a mistress he’d like to trade in his wife in for, and kidnapper Cabbot is a perv. Dir. Bill Kern
3:15 PM
WHO KILLED TEDDY BEAR? (1965): In the seamy streets of 1960s New York, nightclub DJ Norah (Juliet Prowse) is terrorized by an unknown stalker. Unfortunately for her, her tormentor is actually one of the club’s busboys, Larry (Sal Mineo) who shows a much kinder side with his mentally disabled sister. A police detective with his own emotional problems becomes personally involved in the case. Despite its sleaziness, it is an intelligent look at the emotional and cognitive impact of trauma on its survivors. Plus, it features a rare film appearance by Elaine Stricht. Dir. Joseph Cates
Saturday, February 7, 6:30 AM
OUT OF THE PAST (1947): In this quintessential film noir, small town gas station owner Jeff Bailey’s (Robert Mitchum) past catches up with him when a stranger passing through town recognizes him. He tells his girlfriend Ann Miller (Virginia Huston) about his previous via flashback, of course. Jeff was a private eye falls for the gangster’s moll (Jane Greer) that he’s supposed to find for her lover Whit Sterling (Kirk Douglas). She’s allegedly stolen $40,000 from Whit and he wants her and the dough back. As in all good noirs, nothing is really as it seems. Watch for future noir siren Rhonda Fleming as a duplicitous secretary. Based on Geoffrey Homes’ excellent pulp novel Build My Gallows High and shot by legendary cinematographer Nicholas Musuraca. Dir. Jacques Tourneur
Saturday, February 7,10:45 AM
SÉANCE ON A WET AFTERNOON (1964): In this extremely downbeat, late-era Brit noir, noted stage actress Kim Stanley gives a tour de force performance as a medium kidnap a child so she can help the police solve the crime. Richard Attenborough provides an equally impressive counterpoint as the psychic’s weak-willed husband and accomplice. Based on a novel by Mark McShane, imaginatively and impressively adapted a second time by Japanese director Kiyoshi Kurosawa as Séance in 2000. Score by the legendary John Barry. Dir. Bryan Forbes
Saturday, February 7, 9:00 PM & Sunday, February 8, 7:00 AM
VICE SQAUD (1953): The L.A. captain of detectives (Edward G. Robinson) enlists the beautiful head of an escort ring (Paulette Godard) to solve a murder and thwart a robbery. Dir. Arnold Lavine
Sunday, February 8, 3:00 AM
THE HONEYMOON KILLERS (1970): Con man Raymond Fernandez (Tony Lo Bianco) who seduces women steals their money and then abandons them meets his match when he tries his routine on Martha Beck (Shirley Stoler). She proves a master of manipulation and soon exerts an intense emotional control over him. She poses as his sister as he marries and defrauds a series of women; the pair eventually begins murdering their victims. Seems farfetched? The story is based on a real couple, "The Lonely Hearts Killers", who operated in the 40s and were even more ruthless in real life. Dir. Leonard Kastle
Tuesday, February 10, 10:15 PM
UNDERCURRENT (1946): In this unusually cast noir, a sheltered woman (Katherine Hepburn) realizes that either her husband (Robert Taylor with a Walt Disneyesque mustache) or his mysterious brother, (noir stalwart Robert Mitchum) is a psychopath. Edmund Gwenn co-stars as Hepburn’s father. Dir. Vincente Minnelli
Wednesday, February 11, 7:00 PM
CHARLEY VARRICK (1973): Meet Charley Varrick (Walter Matthau), Last of the Independents—at one point, the movie's title. Charley's a smart, methodical criminal, so when a robbery at a tiny New Mexico bank nets him way more money than it should, he knows he's in deep. Soon, he's got to outthink the Mafia, outwit his partner, and outrun the cops. This whip-smart underdog story is Don Siegel at his best and includes many members of his colorful stock company: Andy Robinson (Dirty Harry), Sheree North, John Vernon—plus Joe Don Baker memorably playing a hit man named Molly. Dir. Don Siegel
Thursday, February 12, 1:30 PM – 5:00 PM
4:30 PM
MURDER SHE SAID (1961): When nobody believes she witnessed a murder, Miss Marple (Margaret Rutherford) investigates herself along with her friend Jim Stringer, played by Rutherford’s husband Stinger Davis. Based on Agatha Christie’s 4:50 from Paddington. Trivia: Joan Dixon has a small part in the film and would go on to become the definitive Miss Marple in the BBC series that aired from 1984-1992. Dir. George Pollock
6:00 PM
MURDER MOST FOUL (1964): Elderly sleuth Miss Marple (Margaret Rutherford) joins a small-town theatre to investigate a murder of a landlady. The case has already been closed by the police, but she believes that the lodger convicted in the crime is innocent. As in the rest of the series, her friend Jim Stringer, played by Rutherford’s husband Stinger Davis. Extremely loosely based on Agatha Christie’s Mrs. McGinty's Dead which is actually a Hercule Poirot story (for the second time in the series) and is a jolly good read (and pretty dark). Dir. George Pollock
Sunday, February 15, 4:00 AM – Monday, February 16, 3:00 AM
Here are the noirs...
5:30 AM
THE LETTER (1940): Bette Davis gives a masterful performance as a married woman claiming self-defense in the murder of a fellow Britisher on her husband’s rubber plantation in Malay. This succeeds both as a film noir and an incisive look into colonialism. Herbert Marshall gives a deeply empathetic performance as the loving husband. Watch for Victor Sen Yung as a solicitous lawyer’s clerk. Based on a play by Somerset Maugham, dramatized from his own short story. Nominated for seven Oscars: Best Picture; Best Actress in a Leading Role, Bette Davis; Best Actor in a Supporting Role, James Stephenson; Best Director, William Wyler; Best Cinematography, Black-and-White, Tony Gaudio; Best Film Editing, Warren Low; Best Music, Original Score, Max Steiner. Dir. William Wyler
7:15 AM
KEY LARGO (1948): A returning veteran (Humphrey Bogart) tangles with a ruthless gangster (Edward G. Robinson) during a hurricane while falling for his dead war buddy’s widow (Lauren Bacall). Claire Trevor steals the film with her Oscar winning performance as the gangster’s alcoholic and emotionally abused girlfriend. Dir. John Huston
9:00 AM
DOUBLE INDEMNITY (1944): Barbara Stanwyck—in a platinum blonde wig—plays Phyllis Dietrichson—the consummate femme fatale who lures insurance salesman and all-around chump Walter Neff (Fred McMurray) into a plot involving murder and insurance fraud. His friend, and insurance adjuster, Barton Keyes (Edward G. Robinson) smells a rat. Nominated for seven Oscars: Best Actress in a Leading Role; Best Cinematography, Black-and-White; Best Director; Best Music, Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture; Best Picture; Best Sound, Recording; and Best Writing, Screenplay. Dir. Billy Wilder
11:00 AM
STRANGERS ON A TRAIN (1951): Childlike but charming psychopath Bruno (Robert Walker) suggests that he and Guy (Farley Granger), a tennis player with political ambitions, crisscross murders. Unfortunately, Guy realizes too late that Bruno wasn’t joking. Guy’s unwanted wife shows up murdered and he has no alibi. Screenplay by Raymond Chandler and Czenzi Ormonde, based on the novel by Patricia Highsmith. D.P. Robert Burks’ outstanding work earned an Oscar nomination for Best Cinematography, Black-and-White. Dir. Alfred Hitchcock
1:00 PM
REAR WINDOW (1954): A wheelchair-bound photographer passes the time of his disability by spying on his neighbors. One day he witnesses a murder. Or does he? This iconic mystery was adapted from a story by Cornell Woolrich and earned a Best Writing, Screenplay Oscar nomination for screenwriter John Michael Hayes. The film earned three more Oscar nods for Best Director, Best Cinematography, Color and Best Sound, Recording. Dir. Alfred Hitchcock
3:00 PM
BONNIE AND CLYDE (1967): In this critically acclaimed and deeply influential classic, the legendary bank robbers and lovers (Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway) embark on a crime spree during the Depression era Dust Bowl of the 1930s and become folk heroes. Their crimes quickly spiral from petty theft to bank robbery, but tensions between the couple and the other members of their gang—getaway driver C.W. (Michael J. Pollard), Clyde's older brother Buck (Gene Hackman) and Buck's wife, Blanche (Estelle Parsons). The film won two Oscars, Estelle Parsons for Best Actress in a Supporting Role and Burnett Guffey for Best Cinematography, an additional eight nominations. Dir. Arthur Penn
5:00 PM
WHITE HEAT (1949): “Top of the world, Ma!” A G-man (Edmond O'Brien) infiltrates a gang run by a mother-fixated psychotic, James Cagney in a standout performance. This film marks the cinematic movement away from the traditional Warner Brothers’ portrayal of the gangster to the more cynical and psychological film noir interpretation. Virginia Kellogg garnered an Oscar nomination for Best Writing, Motion Picture Story for the film. Pointless trivia: Naked Gun 33 1/3 borrowed the plot. Dir. Raoul Walsh
7:00 PM
IN COLD BLOOD (1967) Bleak adaptation of Truman Capote’s groundbreaking true crime book. Two men (Robert Blake and Scott Wilson) brutally murder a small-town Kansas family, thinking that ten thousand dollars is hidden in the house. They flee with the forty-three dollars that they actually found, and the FBI hunts them. Dir. Richard Brooks
9:30 PM
DOG DAY AFTERNOON (1975): In New York city, a bank robbery turns into a media circus when Sonny (Al Pacino) tries to steal enough money for his lover's (Chris Sarandon) sex change operation and takes the bank’s employees hostage. The film earned five Oscar nominations, only Frank Pierson won the Oscar for Best Writing, Original Screenplay for the film, based on true events. Surprisingly co-star John Cazale was not nominated for his excellent performance as Sal, Sonny’s partner in crime. Dir. Sidney Lumet
1:45 AM
THE WINDOW (1949): A young boy (Bobby Driscoll) with a penchant for telling tall tales overhears a murder while sleeping alone on a fire escape. Of course, no one believes him except the murderers (Paul Stewart and Ruth Roman) who ruthlessly hunt him down. This excellent adaptation of a Cornell Woolrich story will keep you on the edge of your seat. Won the Oscar for Best Editing. Dir. Ted Tetzlaff
Friday, February 20, 9:30 PM
BULLITT (1968): When mobsters kill the witness Frank Bullitt (Steve McQueen) was assigned to protect, he uses unorthodox methods to investigate the case. Beautiful San Francisco location work and a breathtaking car chase sequence add additional pleasure to watching this fine neo-noir, not to mention the iconic Lalo Schifrin score. Dir. Peter Yates
Tuesday, February 24, 5:00 PM
GASLIGHT (1944): A newlywed (Ingrid Bergman) fears she's going mad when strange things start happening at the family mansion where her aunt was murdered ten years earlier. Joseph Cotten stars as the handsome stranger who aids her. Charles Boyer stars as the handsome husband who terrorizes her. Angela Lansbury plays the pretty maid who may be in league with Boyer. Based on Patrick Hamilton’s Angel Street. The film won two Oscars, Best Actress in a Leading Role for Ingrid Bergman and Best Art Direction-Interior Decoration, Black-and-White for Cedric Gibbons, William Ferrari, Edwin B. Willis, Paul Huldschinsky, and earned five more nominations. Dir. George Cukor
Thursday, February 26, 9:30 PM
THE TALENTED MR. RIPLEY (1999): In this heavily glamorized adaptation of Patricia Highsmith’s novel, Tom Ripley (Matt Damon) maneuvers his way into a trip to Italy to persuade Dickie Greenleaf (Jude Law) to come back to America and be a responsible adult on behalf of Dickie’s father. Tom becomes enamored with Dickie’s life and decides to take it for himself. In this version, Dickie is a narcissist playboy who behaves awfully, his girlfriend Marge (Gwyneth Paltrow) is naïve, and Tom has an emotional depth completely absent in the book because, you know, he’s a PSYCHOPATH. Anyway, I think this version of the story is much more palatable for a general audience than the book is which does make sense if you are going to spend that kind of money they did on its production. On the positive side D.P. John Seale does a magnificent job capturing the beauty of Italy. One last thing, read the damn book and then the rest of the book series in order, they are brilliant. Dir. Anthony Minghella
Friday, February 27, 6:45 PM
WITNESS FOR THE PROSECUTION (1958): A British lawyer (Charles Laughton) gets caught up in a couple’s tangled marital affairs when he defends the husband for murder. Laughton’s wife Elsa Lanchester plays the nurse trying to keep him on his diet and off the cigars and brandy. This first-rate film features both one of Tyrone Power’s and one of Marlene Dietrich’s best performances Based on the play written by Agatha Christie, adapted from her own short story. The film was nominated for six Oscars: Best Picture, Arthur Hornblow Jr.; Best Actor in a Leading Role, Charles Laughton; Best Actress in a Supporting Role, Elsa Lanchester; Best Director, Billy Wilder; Best Sound, Recording, Gordon Sawyer (Samuel Goldwyn SSD); and Best Film Editing, Daniel Mandell. Dir. Billy Wilder
NOIR ALLEY, hosted by FNF prez Eddie Muller, will be on hiatus during TCM’s “31 Days of Oscars” February 13 – March 15. His last film before the break will be Vice Squad (1953) on Saturday, February 8 with the usual repeat on Sunday, February 9. Noir Alley will return on Saturday, March 21, with Who Killed Teddy Bear? (1965).
Eddie Muller presents Talk about a Stranger on the January 31-February 1 edition of NOIR ALLEY
Paul Anka and Ruth Roman in Look in Any Window on February 6
Sal Mineo in Who Killed Teddy Bear on February 6
Kim Stanley stars in Seance on a Wet Afternoon on February 7
Eddie Muller presents Vice Squad on the February 7-8 edition of NOIR ALLEY
Shirley Stoler and Tony Lo Bianco in The Honeymoon Killers on February 8
Walter Matthau stars in Charley Varrick on February 11
Margaret Rutherford in Murder Most Foul on February 11
Gale Sondergaard and Bette Davis in The Letter on February 15
Claire Trevor in Key Largo on February 15
Barbara Stanwyck and Fred McMurray in Double Indemnity on February 15
Robert Walker in Strangers on a Train on February 15
Faye Dunaway and Warren Beatty in Bonnie and Clyde on February 15
Timing is everything — White Heat screens February 15
Scott Wilson in In Cold Blood on February 15
Bobby Driscoll stars in The Window on February 16
Steve McQueen and Robert Vaughn in Bullitt on February 20
Angela Lansbury and Ingrid Bergman in Gaslight on February 24
The Talented Mr. Ripley screens February 26
Marlene Dietrich in Witness for the Prosecution on February 27