Tales of the Unexpected 2.04

The Hitch-Hiker

starring Rod Taylor, Cyril Cusack

written by Robin Chapman

directed by Alastair Reid

American writer Paul Duveen (Rod Taylor) picks up a hitchhiker (Cyril Cusack). Duveen thinks he is doing the man a favor but first the passenger gets insulted by Paul's questions and then Paul discovers the man is a thief, the hard way.

Thoughts

This wasn't bad but it wasn't great. I've definitely seen worse.

Sweet Smell of Success (1957)

Sweet Smell of Success (1957)

starring Burt Lancaster, Tony Curtis, Susan Harrison

written by Clifford Odets, Earnest Lehman

directed by Alexander Mackendrick

97 minutes

Columnist J.J. Hunsecker (Burt Lancaster) wants publicist Sidney Falco (Tony Curtis) to get his sister Karen Huntsecker (Susan Harrison) to break up with her boyfriend, Steve Dallas, a blues guitarist. J.J. promises to help Falco get ahead in his career and doesn't give Falco much in the way of advice as to how to get the job done.

Yellow Canary (1963)

Yellow Canary (1963)

starring Pat Boone, Barbara Eden, Steve Forrest

written by Rod Serling

directed by Buzz Kulik

93 minutes

Pop singer Andy Paxton (Pat Boone) and his wife Lissa Paxton (Barbara Eden) are on the verge of getting a divorce when their infant son is kidnapped. They quickly discover that it might have been an inside job perpetrated by either Baker, Andy's righthand man, or Hup (Steve Forrest), Andy's bodyguard. They call the police but Andy insists on handling most of the dealings with the kidnappers himself. Eventually Andy finds a clue that leads him to the location where his son is being held.

Pete Kelly's Blues (1955)

Pete Kelly's Blues (1955)

starring Jack Webb, Janet Leigh, Edmond O'Brien

written by Richard L. Breen

directed by Jack Webb

Pete Kelly goes through ups and downs, in Kansas City in 1929, as he clashes with speakeasy owner Fran McCarg (Edmond O'Brien). Flapper Ivy Conrad (Janet Leigh) pursues Pete but he is solely focused on his music and for the most part ignores or rebuffs her advances.  

Thoughts

I saw this movie as part of the 2026 Noir City DC film festival at the AFI Silver Theater. I had not seen it before. It was introduced by film historian Foster Hirsch.

The Man with the Golden Arm (1955)

The Man with the Golden Arm (1955)

starring Frank Sinatra, Eleanor Parker, Kim Novak

written by Walter Newman, Lewis Meltzer

directed by Otto Preminger

119 minutes

Frankie Machine (Frank Sinatra) returns to Chicago after kicking a drug habit. He moves back in with his wife Zosh Machine (Eleanor Parker) who is confined to a wheelchair. Lots of people are happy to see him back, including a couple crime bosses who hope that he will return to dealing cards in illegal card games.

Anatomy of a Murder (1959)

Anatomy of a Murder (1959)

starring James Stewart, Lee Remick, Ben Gazzara

written by Wendell Mayes

directed by Otto Preminger

161 minutes

US Army Lieutenant Frederick Manion (Ben Gazzara) is put on trial for murdering a man who raped Laura Manion (Lee Remick), his wife. Local attorney Paul Biegler (James Stewart) is hired to defend Lt. Manion. Biegler investigates the case. He argues, based on testimony provided by an Army psychiatrist, that Manion is innocent because the situation drove him temporarily insane.

King Creole (1958)

King Creole (1958)

starring Elvis Presley, Carolyn Jones, Walter Matthau

written by Michael V. Gazzo, Herbert Baker

directed by Michael Curtiz

116 minutes

Danny Fisher (Elvis Presley) lives and works in the French Quarter of New Orleans bussing tables. He transitions from bus boy to musician after the owner of the King Creole, a nightclub other than the one where he works, finds out he's a talented performer.