RAW DEAL

Fuel injected with lurid pulp thrills and sensationalism, Anthony Mann's hard-boiled masterpiece RAW DEAL (1948), may be one of the most perfect examples of film noir ever made. Sure there are slicker, more polished works but for sheer, bravura film making and a powerful narrative that pulls no punches, RAW DEAL can't be beat.

All of the elements are here. An escaped convict, Joe Sullivan (Dennis O'Keefe), goes on the run from the law with the help of his faithful, constant companion, Pat (Claire Trevor). Once out of the big house, Joe has one objective, to recover $50,000 in cash from a previous crime, money that is in the possession of sadistic mob boss Rick Coyle (Raymond Burr). While on the lam, Joe takes the attorney who defended him, Ann (the lovely Marsha Hunt), hostage. The three stay one step ahead of the law with a doomed love triangle developing between the good girl, the not-so-good girl and the bad-man-with-a-good-guy-inside.

While on the run, the trio crosses paths with a killer on the run, a frightened wife-murderer played by the great Whit Bissell. And to illustrate just how sadistic Rick is, he tosses a dish full of flambe into a woman's face (the flames head straight into the camera while the horrible burning takes place off-screen, accompanied by anguished screams). There's a knock down, drag out brutal fight in a fishing shack and Joe finally confronts Rick in a fiery, fight to the death.

Beautifully shot by genre master John Alton, RAW DEAL looks great from beginning to end. It's drenched in atmosphere, whether on the fog shrouded streets of the big city or the wide open rural countryside. Mann and Alton filmed the big set pieces of the screenplay by Leopold Atlas and John C. Higgins, first, then took their time with the quieter, character bits and it's here that the film really sings.

The geometry of the love triangle is what gives RAW DEAL it's beating heart. Pat desperately loves Joe and will do anything to help him escape, even lying to him about Ann's endangerment. Ann thinks Joe is a savage brute at first but comes to see the broken, wounded soul within and eventually wields a gun in his defense. Joe wants both of the women for different reasons. He knows that Pat has been loyal and faithful and right beside him every step of the way while Ann touches a part of him that's been buried deep for a long time. But no matter the situation, one of these three will be dead by the end of the film.

RAW DEAL is one of the touchstones of the film noir genre. If you love film noir and haven't already seen RAW DEAL, you should check it out immediately. If you're on the fence about noir, give it a try and you'll see what all of the fuss is about.

Highest recommendation.