☆ ☆ ☆
The
Devil Thumbs a Ride (1947) – F. Feist
This noir-ish B-movie quickie (only 62
minutes) coasts along on the personality of Lawrence Tierney – he’s a tough guy
and presumably the devil incarnate of the title. When a tipsy travelling salesman picks him
up, Tierney is all smooth-talking (as the devil is wont to be) and convinces
the hapless slub to do all manner of things to aid and abet Tierney’s flight
from the law. You see, he’s on the lam
after a hold-up turned murder. They pick
up two gals also needing a ride (in the stretch between San Diego and L. A.)
and wind up at the beach house of the salesman’s colleague (out of town). All the while, the cops are closing in,
assisted by a smart gas station attendant.
Tierney alternates between smooth and merciless, trying hard not to show
his true colours too often but soon everyone knows and the cops show up for the
final showdown. It holds up pretty well
for what it is but Born to Kill (also 1947) is the stronger Tierney
vehicle. He never became a star
(purportedly because of drink and off-screen punch-outs) but Tarantino did give
him a final heyday in Reservoir Dogs.
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