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CrimeDrama

Private Hell 36

- These are night faces... Living on the edge of evil and violence!

In New York, a bank robbery of $300,000 goes unsolved for a year, until some of the marked bills are found in a Los Angeles drugstore theft. Police detectives Cal Bruner and Jack Farnham investigate and are led from the drugstore to a nightclub, where singer Lili is another recipient of a stolen bill. With Lili's help, the partners track down the remaining money, but both Lili and Frank are dismayed when Cal decides he wants to keep part of it.

Release Date : 1954-09-03

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : The Filmakers

Production Country : United States of America

Alternative Titles : Baby Face KillerPrivate Hell Thirty Six

Cast

Ida Lupino

Character Name : Lilli Marlowe

Original Name : Ida Lupino

Gender : Female

Steve Cochran

Character Name : Police Sgt. Cal Bruner

Original Name : Steve Cochran

Gender : Male

Howard Duff

Character Name : Police Sgt. Jack Farnham

Original Name : Howard Duff

Gender : Male

Dean Jagger

Character Name : Police Capt. Michaels

Original Name : Dean Jagger

Gender : Male

Dorothy Malone

Character Name : Francey Farnham

Original Name : Dorothy Malone

Gender : Female

James Anderson

Character Name : Patrolman in Locker Room (uncredited)

Original Name : James Anderson

Gender : Male

William Boyett

Character Name : Stimson (uncredited)

Original Name : William Boyett

Gender : Male

Chester Conklin

Character Name : Murdered Man in Elevator (uncredited)

Original Name : Chester Conklin

Gender : Male

Richard Deacon

Character Name : Mr. Mace (uncredited)

Original Name : Richard Deacon

Gender : Male

George Dockstader

Character Name : Fugitive (uncredited)

Original Name : George Dockstader

Gender : Male

King Donovan

Character Name : Evney Serovitch (uncredited)

Original Name : King Donovan

Gender : Male

Bridget Duff

Character Name : Bridget Farnham (uncredited)

Original Name : Bridget Duff

Gender : Male

Dabbs Greer

Character Name : Sam Marvin (uncredited)

Original Name : Dabbs Greer

Gender : Male

Jerry Hausner

Character Name : Hausner (uncredited)

Original Name : Jerry Hausner

Gender : Male

Jimmy Hawkins

Character Name : Delivery Boy (uncredited)

Original Name : Jimmy Hawkins

Gender : Male

Tom Monroe

Character Name : Patrolman Tom (uncredited)

Original Name : Tom Monroe

Gender : Male

Kenneth Patterson

Character Name : Detective Lt. Lubin (uncredited)

Original Name : Kenneth Patterson

Gender : Male

Sammy Shack

Character Name : Racetrack Patron (uncredited)

Original Name : Sammy Shack

Gender : Male

Chris O'Brien

Character Name : Coroner (Uncredited)

Original Name : Chris O'Brien

Gender : Male

Reviews

J

John Chard

@John Chard

2024-05-16

Solidly Siegel? No, not really. Two detectives, Jack Farnham and Cal Bruner are deeply investigating a robbery in which $300,000 was stolen. As their investigation progresses, they, by way of a sultry woman called Lilli Marlowe, manage to find the perp and recover the cash. But Bruner has fallen for Marlowe, and realising she has expensive tastes and that his police salary can not sustain the relationship, he ponders turning to the dark side, with Farnham equally at odds with himself over the pressures of raising a family. Is Private Hell 36 a noir film? Well I'm no professionally paid expert on the subject, but it certainly has all the ingredients in place. Yet the film, in spite of some watchable attributes, is a largely character driven talky piece of fluff that isn't really raising the bar in the pantheon of film noir. Or, in fact, crime picture history. Certainly it's not a film that screams out that it was directed by Don Siegel. It's a solid premise to work from, and in Ida Lupino (Marlowe) and the great Steve Cochran (Bruner), the picture boasts two very fine performances, with each actor giving the film its emotional weight. A nod of approval also goes to the scoring of the piece by Leith Stevens, as jazzy blues like combos flit in and out to create an ear worthy alliance as our detectives battle with their very conscience. All things considered it's an enjoyable enough piece, but one that to me fades very quick from the memory. So, solid if unspectacular, and reliable if lacking in any major amount of thrills and brain tickling plotting. 5/10