DramaCrimeThriller

Tight Spot

- SHE: "Is that blood?" HE: "I took two bullets through the chest, ma'am. Just routine."

A former model, serving time in prison, becomes a key witness in a trial against a notorious gangster. She is put under protective watch by the District Attorney in a posh hotel, but the crime kingpin makes attempts to get to her. Preserved by the Academy Film Archive in partnership with Sony Pictures Entertainment, Inc. in 1997.

Release Date : 1955-03-19

Language :

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : Columbia Pictures

Production Country : United States of America

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Character Name : Sherry Conley

Original Name : Ginger Rogers

Gender : Female

Character Name : Lloyd Hallett

Original Name : Edward G. Robinson

Gender : Male

Character Name : Vince Striker

Original Name : Brian Keith

Gender : Male

Character Name : Prison Girl

Original Name : Lucy Marlow

Gender : Female

Character Name : Benjamin Costain

Original Name : Lorne Greene

Gender : Male

Character Name : Mrs. Willoughby

Original Name : Katherine Anderson

Gender : Female

Character Name : Marvin Rickles

Original Name : Allen Nourse

Gender : Male

Character Name : Fred Packer

Original Name : Peter Leeds

Gender : Male

Character Name : Mississippi Mac

Original Name : Doye O'Dell

Gender : Male

Character Name : Clara Moran

Original Name : Eve McVeagh

Gender : Female

Character Name : Warden (uncredited)

Original Name : Helen Wallace

Gender : Female

Character Name : Miss Masters (uncredited)

Original Name : Gloria Ann Simpson

Gender : Male

Character Name : Carlyle (uncredited)

Original Name : Robert Shield

Gender : Male

Character Name : Arny (uncredited)

Original Name : Norman Keats

Gender : Male

Character Name : Jim Hornsby (uncredited)

Original Name : Frank Gerstle

Gender : Male

Character Name : Policeman (uncredited)

Original Name : Dean Cromer

Gender : Male

Character Name : Doctor (uncredited)

Original Name : Tom De Graffenreid

Gender : Male

Character Name : Girl Honeymooner (uncredited)

Original Name : Kathryn Grant

Gender : Female

Character Name : Elevator Mechanic (uncredited)

Original Name : Tom Greenway

Gender : Male

Character Name : Judge (uncredited)

Original Name : Joseph Hamilton

Gender : Male

Character Name : Second Detective (uncredited)

Original Name : Ed Hinton

Gender : Male

Character Name : First Detective (uncredited)

Original Name : John Larch

Gender : Male

Character Name : Pete Tonelli (uncredited)

Original Name : Alfred Linder

Gender : Male

Character Name : Policeman (uncredited)

Original Name : Ken Mayer

Gender : Male

Character Name : Harris (uncredited)

Original Name : Edward McNally

Gender : Male

Character Name : Plainclothesman (uncredited)

Original Name : Patrick Miller

Gender : Male

Character Name : Boy Honeymooner (uncredited)

Original Name : Robert Nichols

Gender : Male

Character Name : Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)

Original Name : Bill Raisch

Gender : Male

Character Name : Bailiff (uncredited)

Original Name : Alan Reynolds

Gender : Male

Character Name : Plainclothesman (uncredited)

Original Name : Will J. White

Gender : Male

Character Name : Second Policeman (uncredited)

Original Name : John Zaremba

Gender : Male

Reviews

John Chard

@John Chard

2024-05-16

All we need now is a well dug grave. Tight Spot is directed by Phil Karlson and adapted to screenplay by William Bowers from the play "Dead Pigeon" written by Leonard Kantor. It stars Ginger Rogers, Edward G. Robinson, Brian Keith, Lorne Green and Eve McVeagh. Music is by George Duning and cinematography by Burnett Guffey. Sherry Conley (Rogers) is offered a way out of her prison term if she agrees to testify as a witness in the trial of mobster Benjamin Costain (Green). Holed up in a hotel room under police protection, Sherry starts to form a close relationship with Lt. Vince Striker (Keith). Just as Costain's hit-men start to close in... Is it noir or not? That's a question that has cropped up quite a bit since Columbia released it as part of their Film Noir Classics III Collection. The presence of Karlson (Kansas City Confidential), Guffey (In A Lonely Place), Bowers (The Mob) and Robinson (Scarlet Street) certainly gives it strong noir credentials on the makers front. What transpires is more crime melodrama than noir, but Tight Spot does feature noir traits. From Guffey's shadows and half lights photography, to the characterisations portrayed by Rogers and Keith, there's enough here to keep the noir faithful replenished. Rogers' performance (casting) has also been much cause for debate, which is understandable as it is a role that could quite easily have been given to better femme fatale actresses of the time. Yet although she takes some getting used to, and that hair cut is just bizarre, Rogers does a nice line in sharp tongued sass, even putting some sexy sizzle in to the bargain during a slow dance sequence with Keith. She does fine work, a bit over theatrical maybe? But she nestles in nicely alongside the strong turns from Keith, Green and Robinson to lift an average story to better heights. Much of the film is set within the confines of one hotel room, which is both a blessing and a curse. At times it works in the film's favour because Karlson is able to wring out some claustrophobia, a real sense of impending threat is evident at times. However, at other times the picture feels just too stage bound, stripping away some of the realistic atmosphere the makers strive for. There's also a problem of tonal shifts as comedy sticks its oar in at regular intervals, including a frequent visit to a hillbilly television show that serves no purpose other than to annoy Keith's increasingly agitated detective. A mixed bag without doubt, and at the half way point some may be wondering what they have let themselves in for? But the cast and makers come through in credit once the second half arrives. Because then we get action, twists and a grand finale. 7/10