In 1951, United Artists released a crime thriller,
He Ran All the Way, co-starring John Garfield and Shelley Winters. The story tells of petty thief Nick Robey who botches a robbery, shooting and killing a policeman, and leaving his partner Al severely wounded. Nick escapes with over $10,000 and goes to a local swimming pool. At the pool, he meets bakery worker Peg Dobbs, and accompanies her home to her family's apartment. Peg's mother, father and young brother leave to see a movie. When they return, Robey takes the family hostage until he can escape.
Not only was this John Garfield’s final film. He was “greylisted” following accusations of his involvement with the Communist Party. Testifying before the House Committee on Un-American Activities, he repudiated communism, denied party membership, and claimed that he did not know any members of the Communist Party during his entire time in Hollywood, “because I was not a party member or associated in any shape, way, or form.” He testified on April 23, 1951, just two months before He Ran All the Way was scheduled to open, on June 19. Garfield died less than a year later, on May 21, 1952, at age 39.
Shelley Winters, who I always felt the studios wasted because they gave her good-girl roles early in her career and looked at her as nothing but a pretty face, proves she can truly act and put on a hell of a performance in this movie. Many praise the acting job of John Garfield but, to me, Shelley Winters steals the movie.
I make it a tradition of watching at least one film noir a month, simply because I love the genre and there are so many that I can see over the years. This one, in particular, was the best I have seen in the last year and would rank among my top ten. Highly recommended.
