Review: One Way Street

A jaded mob doctor (James Mason) steals money from a powerful gangster (Dan Duryea), and flees to Mexico with the gangster’s girlfriend (Marta Toren) for good measure. That won’t piss Duryea off at all. William Conrad plays Duryea’s chief henchman, Jack Elam is another thug in Duryea’s employ, and Basil Ruysdael plays a Mexican priest.

 

Unusual and twisty 1950 Hugo Fregonese (writer of the average spaghetti western “Find a Place to Die”) crime/noir-drama is full of rock-solid performances and a few surprises throughout, particularly the ending. Scripted by TV veteran Lawrence Kimble (who wrote episodes of “State Trooper” and “Studio 57”), the film gets off and running pretty quickly, and although the second half does slow down it’s still really interesting stuff. The versatile James Mason is a solid anchor playing an imperfect protagonist who gets his hands quite dirty at times, whilst Dan Duryea is in great form as the confident and powerful gangster who isn’t quite as in control of things as he thinks he is. There’s also good support from Marta Toren, William Conrad, Basil Ruysdael, and Jack Elam is terrific in an uncredited menacing bit role. Apparently Rock Hudson has an early bit role as a truck driver but I must confess I only learned of this after seeing the film.

 

When a film with this kind of cast seems virtually unknown, it’s usually a sign that the film is forgettable or even poor. I can understand why it’s not exactly top-shelf 50s cinema, it’s a little too quirky and B-grade for that perhaps. However, this quick little crime movie is still quite good. It’s disarming and interesting, and best of all it’s in and out in about 80 minutes. Also, if you want to see James Mason wear a sombrero, here’s your movie.  

 

Rating: B-

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