The Burglar - DaaVeeDee

The Burglar (DVD) (*)

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Language Selections:
English ( Dolby Digital Stereo )
Spanish ( Dolby Digital Stereo )
Spanish ( Subtitles )

Product Origin/Format:
Spain ( PAL/Region 2 )

Running Time:
90 min

Aspect Ratio:
Fullscreen

Special Features:
Interactive Menu
Scene Access
Black & White

Movie filmed in 1957 and produced in:
United States ( USA, Canada )

Directed By:
Paul Wendkos

Written By:
David Goodis

Actors:
Dan Duryea ..... Nat Harbin
Jayne Mansfield ..... Gladden
Martha Vickers ..... Della
Peter Capell ..... Baylock
Mickey Shaughnessy ..... Dohmer
Wendell K. Phillips ..... Police Captain
Phoebe Mackay ..... Sister Sara
Stewart Bradley ..... Charlie
John Facenda ..... News Commentator
Sam Elber ..... Person
Frank Hall ..... News Reporter
Bob Wilson ..... Newsreel Narrator
Steve Allison ..... State Trooper
Richard Emery ..... Harbin as a Child
Andrea McLaughlin ..... Gladden as a Child

Synopsis:

Professional burglar Nat Harbin (Dan Duryea) and his two associates, Baylock (Peter Capell) and Dohmer (Mickey Shaughnessy), set their sights on wealthy spiritualist Sister Sarah (Phoebe Mackay), who has inherited a fortune - including a renowned emerald necklace - from a Philadelphia financier. Using Nat's female ward, Gladden (Jayne Mansfield), to pose as an admirer and case the mansion where the woman lives, they set up what looks like a perfect break-in; even when Nat's car is spotted by a couple of cops, he bluffs his way through, gets the necklace, and makes the getaway. But the trio - plus Gladden - can't agree on how to dispose of the necklace, and soon their bickering becomes a lot less important than the fact that someone is on to what they've done - a woman (Martha Vickers) is working on Nat, while a man (Stewart Bradley) is working on Gladden. Equally serious, the trio kills a New Jersey state trooper while on their way to warn her. And among the cops chasing them is one with larceny in his heart and murder on his mind.

Paul Wendkos has directed both paranoid stylistic triumphs and bland programmers. This 1957 noir, his first, has amazing flourishes even if the storytelling sometimes goes slack. With the help of two pals and the stepsister who loves him, a career thief steals a necklace from a wealthy spiritualist, only to be pursued by a crooked cop. Dan Duryea and Jayne Mansfield give uncharacteristically serious performances, but the film's best moments include a stunningly matched cut from a TV newscast to a burglar leaping a wall and the Wellesian newsreel opening and bizarre close-a chase at a carnival that makes the principals seem utterly isolated in space.

Nat Harbin (Dan Duryea) is the leader of a small-time burglary ring out to make the big score. Included in this gang are jewelry and fence expert Baylock (Peter Capell), muscle Dohmer (Mickey Shaughnessy), and casing expert Gladden (Jayne Mansfield). We learn later, through flashback that as a young orphan Nat was taken under the wing of Gladden's father and taught the trade of burglary. In return Nat had vowed to always care for Gladden.

This product was added to our catalog on Sunday 20 November, 2011.

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