''A Bullet for Joey'' is a 1955

film noir Film noir (; ) is a style of Cinema of the United States, Hollywood Crime film, crime dramas that emphasizes cynicism (contemporary), cynical attitudes and motivations. The 1940s and 1950s are generally regarded as the "classic period" of Ameri ...

directed by Lewis Allen and starring Edward G. Robinson and

George Raft George Raft (né Ranft; September 26, 1901 – November 24, 1980) was an American film actor and dancer identified with portrayals of gangsters in crime melodramas of the 1930s and 1940s. A stylish leading man in dozens of movies, Raft is remembe ...

. The picture involves a gangster who sneaks into Canada to kidnap a scientist for the communists. The supporting cast features Audrey Totter, Peter van Eyck, George Dolenz and Peter Hansen.

Plot

Communist agents in Canada are spying on Dr. Carl Macklin, an atomic physicist whose knowledge they want to steal. To kidnap him, Eric Hartman, the party's top man in

Montreal Montreal is the List of towns in Quebec, largest city in the Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Quebec, the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, second-largest in Canada, and the List of North American cit ...

, offers $100,000 to deported American criminal Joe Victor. Joe's former flame Joyce Geary is blackmailed into helping with the plan. Police inspector Leduc of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police investigates. A thug working for Victor kills the scientist's secretary after using her to gain information. Leduc is taken prisoner aboard a ship as Hartman and Victor attempt to take Dr. Macklin with them to Europe. Leduc pleads with Victor, who misses his native country, to do the right thing for and help stop the communists. A shootout ensues between Victor and Hartman and they kill each other. Joyce's innocence is proven to the satisfaction of Leduc and the law.

Cast

* Edward G. Robinson as Inspector Leduc *

as Joe Victor * Audrey Totter as Joyce * Peter van Eyck as Hartman * George Dolenz as Macklin * Peter Hansen as Fred

Production

The film was originally titled ''Canada's Great Manhunt''. It was inspired by a magazine article by Stephen Brott. The article was built into a full story by James Benson Nablo, and it was optioned by Samuel Bischoff and David Diamond. Geoffrey Homes wrote the script and George Raft and Edward G. Robinson were signed to play the leads. Gloria Grahame was sought to play the female lead. Filming began on December 10, 1954. Robinson and Raft each paid writer

A. I. Bezzerides Albert Isaac "Buzz" Bezzerides ( August 9, 1908 – January 1, 2007) was an American novelist and screenwriter, best known for writing film noir, films noir and action film, motion pictures, especially several of Warners' "social conscience" film ...

to assist with their dialogue.

Release

''A Bullet for Joey'' was released in New York on April 15, 1955. The film was released in London at the Exhibitors' Trade Show on April 7, 1955 and in Australia on March 16, 1956.

Reception

Dorothy Masters of the ''

New York Daily News The ''Daily News'' is an American newspaper based in Jersey City, New Jersey. It was founded in 1919 by Joseph Medill Patterson in New York City as the ''Illustrated Daily News''. It was the first U.S. daily printed in Tabloid (newspaper format ...

'' wrote: " e story is laid right on the line in a semi-documentary style. It begins well, accumulating a lot of tension in the crescendo, but overextends on the climax, by which time the tally of corpses is nearing astronomical figures. Although the presentation is not geared to thespian indulgences, Robinson manages to convey conviction and authority in his portrayal." Fred W. Fox of the ''

Los Angeles Mirror The ''Los Angeles Times'' is an American daily newspaper that began publishing in Los Angeles, California, in 1881. Based in the Greater Los Angeles city of El Segundo since 2018, it is the sixth-largest newspaper in the U.S. and the larges ...

'' wrote: "'A Bullet for Joey' may not be Oscar fare but it is neat melodrama that holds the spectator's attention." John L. Scott of the ''

Los Angeles Times The ''Los Angeles Times'' is an American Newspaper#Daily, daily newspaper that began publishing in Los Angeles, California, in 1881. Based in the Greater Los Angeles city of El Segundo, California, El Segundo since 2018, it is the List of new ...

'' called the film a "moderately exciting crime thriller" with a "somewhat lugubrious plot."

Home video

''A Bullet for Joey'' was released on

Blu-ray Blu-ray (Blu-ray Disc or BD) is a digital optical disc data storage format designed to supersede the DVD format. It was invented and developed in 2005 and released worldwide on June 20, 2006, capable of storing several hours of high-defin ...

in November 2015 and on

DVD The DVD (common abbreviation for digital video disc or digital versatile disc) is a digital optical disc data storage format. It was invented and developed in 1995 and first released on November 1, 1996, in Japan. The medium can store any ki ...

by Kino Lorber Studio Classics on July 10, 2007 and November 17, 2015.

References

Sources

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External links

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Review of film
at Cinema Retro
Review of film
at Variety * {{DEFAULTSORT:Bullet for Joey, A 1955 films 1950s English-language films American crime drama films American black-and-white films Cold War spy films American anti-communist propaganda films Film noir United Artists films Films directed by Lewis Allen Films scored by Harry Sukman Films set in Montreal Films shot in California 1955 crime drama films 1950s thriller films 1950s American films English-language crime drama films English-language thriller films