4 Star

Cash, Greed and Murderous Intent.

From Arrow Academy comes classic Film-Noir from 1949 from the director Byron Haskin who brought us such classics as Treasure Island, Arsenic and Old Lace, The War of the Worlds and Robinson Crusoe on Mars) comes a tale of what unearned money can do to people. Now brought to us by the talents of UCLA Film and Television Archive, a clean and crisp copy of this film.

It’s half eight at night and a couple are driving down a deserted road heading for Ralph and Alice’s dinner party, but Jane Palmer (Lizabeth Scott, Dead Reckoning) doesn’t see eye-to-eye with Alice as she is always lording it over her. She pleads with her husband Alan (Arthur Kennedy, The Man From Laramie) to turn around and take her home, he is reluctant but he agrees when Jane takes drastic action, after weaving in the road he slows and as he does a dark car comes the other way and throws something into the back of the rowing pairs convertible.

A strange occurrence to say the least so they pull over and inspect the doctors type bag and it is full of cash, lots of cash. Before they can inspect it properly, a car shows up flashing its lights, Jane jumps into the drivers seat and takes off with Alan jumping into the back seat. They manage to lose the tail after a wild chase. Getting the car back to their apartment they run in and lock the door and chain it so that nobody can see their booty, especially Alan’s sister Kathy (Kristine Miller, Jungle Patrol) who lives across the landing and has a pass key to their door.

Jane quickly grabs the bag and empties its contents onto the bed, they reckon there is about a hundred grand lying there on the mattress. Jane can’t believe their luck, now having the money to keep up with the Joneses and move up the social ladder but Alan wants nothing to do with it and wants to hand it in to the police.

Horrified, Jane manages to strike a bargain with Alan to keep the money for a week and if nobody comes looking for it they can keep it. So Alan takes the case to Grand Union Station and puts it in handling and collects his ticket stub.

When a police detective knocks on the door Jane is panicked as she has been spending their own money like they had the hidden cash. But this guy isn’t a cop he managed to get their car registration, whilst he was chasing them the other night. He wants his cash back but Jane is too desperate to let it go, so she makes a deal with Danny Fuller (Dan Duryea, Winchester ’73). The problem she has is Alan and the ticket stub in his coat pocket. And who is this guy Don Blake (Don DeFore, Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo) claiming to be one of Alan’s old squadron mates? With a murky past can Jane get a cut of the loot?

A tale of murder and intrigue that has been copied many times since this film was made, but now enjoy this lovingly restored copy.

“That’s just to remind you… you’re in a tough racket now!”

Too Late for tears: Special Features.

Brand new restoration of original 35mm vault elements by UCLA Film & Television Archive
Presented in High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) and Standard Definition DVD
Original mono audio (uncompressed PCM on the Blu-ray)
Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
Audio Commentary by writer, historian, and film programmer Alan K. Rode
Chance Of A Lifetime: The Making of Too Late For Tears – a new behind-the-scenes examination of the film’s original production produced by Steven Smith and the Film Noir Foundation and featuring noir experts Eddie Muller, Kim Morgan, and Julie Kirgo
Tiger Hunt: Restoring Too Late For Tears – a chronicle of the multi-year mission to rescue this “lost” noir classic produced by Steven Smith and the Film Noir Foundation
Gallery featuring rare photographs, poster art and original lobby cards
Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Matt Griffin
Booklet featuring new writing by writer and noir expert Brian Light