Summary
13 West Street is a 1962 American neo noir crime film directed by Philip Leacock and starring Rod Steiger and Alan Ladd whose own production company produced the film.[1] It was based on the 1957 novel The Tiger Among Us (1957) by Leigh Brackett, who called the film "very, very dull".[2]
| 13 West Street | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Philip Leacock |
| Screenplay by | Bernard C. Schoenfeld Robert Presnell Jr. |
| Based on | The Tiger Among Us (1957) by Leigh Brackett |
| Produced by | William Bloom Alan Ladd |
| Starring | Alan Ladd Rod Steiger |
| Cinematography | Charles Lawton, Jr. |
| Edited by | Al Clark |
| Music by | George Duning |
| Color process | Black and white |
Production company | Ladd Enterprises |
| Distributed by | Columbia Pictures |
Release date |
|
Running time | 80 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Plot edit
A rocket scientist, Walt Sherrill, is driving along a empty city street at night when his car breaks down. After he is almost run down by a speeding car, he is assaulted and viciously beaten by the occupants, a group of well-dressed young men, the opposite of a slum dwelling street gang. When the police, including investigating juvenile officer Detective Koleski, are - in Sherill's opinion - acting too slowly and seem too busy to focus on finding the culprits, Sherill decides to go after them on his own.
This quest becomes an obsession for Sherrill which threatens the stability of both his job and his marriage. Sherrill proves to be an amateur sleuth at best, going over ground the police have already covered. His wife uncomfortably watches him use a gun he has purchased to take target practice on tin cans.
One night, Sherill spots a convertible that resembles one belonging to his assailants and tails it at high speed. The driver turns out to be a frightened teenage girl who calls the police, and Sherill spends an uncomfortable night in the holding tank before Koleski has him released.
Sherill hires Finney, a private investigator, whose work leads him to Chuck Landry, the gang's leader. Sherill's non-stop search for revenge causes one member of the gang to commit suicide. Landry counters by luring Finney to a dangerous section of road where he is killed, then coming to Sherill's home where he menaces his wife and plans to shoot Sherill when he returns home. Landry escapes from the police but Sherill takes the boy's address from his abandoned car, and is waiting there when Landry arrives. Sherrill beats him savagely with his cane. On the verge of killing him by drowning him in the Landry family's swimming pool, Sherill finally relents, turning Landry over to Koleski to be placed under arrest. Tracey and Walt leave the scene to go home.
Cast edit
- Alan Ladd as Walt Sherill
- Rod Steiger as Detective Sergeant Koleski
- Michael Callan as Chuck Landry
- Dolores Dorn as Tracey Sherill
- Kenneth MacKenna as Paul Logan
- Margaret Hayes as Mrs. Landry
- Stanley Adams as Finney
- Chris Robinson as Everett
- Jeanne Cooper as Mrs. Quinn
- Arnold Merritt as Bill
- Mark Slade as Tommy
- Henry Beckman as Detective Joe Bradford
- Clegg Hoyt as Noddy
Production edit
Leigh Brackett's novel The Tiger Among Us was originally published in 1957.[3] Film rights were purchased by producer Charles Schnee, who had just left MGM and signed a deal with Columbia Pictures. He hired John Michael Hayes to write the script.[4] John Wayne was announced as a possible star.[5] It was then reported that Valentine Davies was working on the script, which had been retitled Fear No Evil.[6] Production plans were delayed when Schnee announced he was leaving Columbia, claiming he was unable to get any of his films in development made because of "almost insurmountable casting difficulties."[7] The project stayed with Columbia and was assigned to producer Boris Kaplan. Roger Presnell wrote a version of the script.[8] Philip Leacock was given the job as director and Alan Ladd and Rod Steiger were cast in the leads.[9] The title The Tiger Among Us was changed out of fear audiences might expect a jungle film. The new title was 13 East Street then Alan Ladd requested "east" be changed to "west". "The story concerns a teenage gang from Los Angeles east side but I suggested the locale be switched to the swank purlieu of Bel Air", said Ladd. "I have nothing against Bel Air but I want to show that juvenile delinquency can breed in exclusive areas too."[10]
Filming started April 1961.[11]
See also edit
References edit
- ^ Richard Harland Smith, "13 West Street", Turner Classic Movies accessed January 12, 2013
- ^ Brackett, Leigh (July 1975). "Leigh Brackett — An Audio Interview" (Interview). Interviewed by Tony Macklin. Archived from the original on March 28, 2015. Retrieved May 30, 2015. 55m
- ^ ANTHONY BOUCHER (January 13, 1957). "Report on Criminals at Large". New York Times. p. BR11.
- ^ Schallert, Edwin (October 4, 1957). "Henreid Will Direct 'Take Five From Five' Teen-age Scourge Due". Los Angeles Times. p. A9.
- ^ Schallert, Edwin (October 14, 1957). "Bromfield Seeks Desi Arnaz as Star; Wills Livens 'Hell Bent Kid'". Los Angeles Times. p. C11.
- ^ "FILM EVENTS: Anna Lee in Hudson Film Play". Los Angeles Times. August 23, 1958. p. 12.
- ^ THOMAS M. PRYOR (January 30, 1959). "WALD, NEGULESCO TO TEAM ON FILM: Director and Producer Will Make 'Best of Everything' -- Schnee Settles Pact". New York Times. p. 33.
- ^ "ALAN LADD FILM NAMES DIRECTOR: Robert Webb Is Signed for 'Guns of Timberland' -- Columbia Adds Writers". New York Times. March 24, 1959. p. 45.
- ^ Hopper, Hedda (March 15, 1961). "'Critic's Choice' Film to Star Hank Fonda". Chicago Daily Tribune. p. b5.
- ^ Scott, John L. (November 19, 1961). "Marriage at First Sight". Los Angeles Times. p. O22.
- ^ Scheuer, Philip K. (April 20, 1961). "California 'Feud' Will Engage Ladd: Zanuck Consults Literateurs; Gordons Package Lee Remick". Los Angeles Times. p. B13.
External links edit
- 13 West Street at IMDb
- Trailer at TCMDB
- 13 West Street at the TCM Movie Database
