Crime Wave Overview:

Crime Wave (1954) was a Crime - Film Noir Film directed by Andre De Toth and produced by Bryan Foy.

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Crime Wave (1954)

By 4 Star Film Fan on Aug 13, 2018 From 4 Star Films

The opening gambit is wonderful. It’s marvelous.?You can’t blame me?if I get a little…Well, anyways if you thought that squeaky-clean Doris Day could never turn up in a film noir you were gravely mistaken. In this particular case, a jovial gas station attendant has her blaring loud... Read full article


Pic of the Day: “Crime Wave” revisited

By Marisa on Sep 29, 2015 From The Timothy Carey Experience

To celebrate the birthday anniversary of the great Ted de Corsia, born in Brooklyn this date in 1903, we take another look at Crime Wave (1954), directed by Andre’ de Toth. This is a publicity still for the film under its original title, The City is Dark. Also appearing here are (left to righ... Read full article


Videos of the Week: “The Killing” and “Crime Wave”

By Marisa on May 6, 2015 From The Timothy Carey Experience

To celebrate today’s broadcast of The Killing (1956) and Crime Wave (1954) on Turner Classic Movies, as part of their tribute to Star of the Month Sterling Hayden, we are featuring two videos this week that come from both of those films. First up is Timothy’s pivotal scene from The Killi... Read full article


Pic of the Day: “Crime Wave” lobby card

By Marisa on Apr 6, 2015 From The Timothy Carey Experience

Already anticipating the screenings of Crime Wave (1954) and The Killing (1956) next month as Turner Classic Movies celebrates its Star of the Month for May, Sterling Hayden, today’s pic takes another look at the former film. It’s one of the best examples of film noir ever, directed by A... Read full article


Pic of the Day: “Crime Wave” revisited

By Marisa on Nov 3, 2014 From The Timothy Carey Experience

Today we observe the 93rd birthday anniversary of legendary cinematic tough guy Charles Bronson. Here he is with Timothy and Jim Hayward in a scene from Andre’ De Toth‘s noir masterpiece Crime Wave (1954). Born Charles Dennis Buchinsky to a Lithuanian coal-mining family in Pennsylvania ... Read full article


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Quotes from

Det. Lt. Sims: You know, it isn't what a man wants to do, Lacey, but what he has to do. Now take me - I love to smoke cigarettes, but the doctors say I can't have them. So what do I do? I chew toothpicks, tons of them.


Steve Lacey: How come the smart guys are inside and the dopes outside?


Ellen Lacey: But you haven't done anything! You're innocent!
Steve Lacey: Once you do a stretch, you're never clean again! You're never free! They've always got a string on you, and they tug, tug, tug! Before you know it, you're back again!


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Facts about

Reportedly director André De Toth was offered a 35-day shooting schedule, but he told the studio he could complete the film in 15 days. He finished in 13.
A few seconds of footage in Crime Wave are borrowed from _Deadly Is The Female (1950)_. When suspects are rounded up following the attack on the gas station, we see police cars stopping by the entrance of a police station and letting out their suspects. This piece of footage can be seen in Deadly Is The Female, just after the payroll holdup, when police launch their dragnet.
According to an interview on US DVD, Jack L. Warner originally wanted Humphrey Bogart and Ava Gardner to star in the movie, but André De Toth vehemently protested this. Warner was fed up after a long argument and told De Toth he could make the movie any way he wanted, but it had to be in two weeks, which suited De Toth since he finished under schedule and under budget with his preferred star, Sterling Hayden.
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Also directed by André De Toth




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Also released in 1954




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