It was a trend early in his career, Douglas playing the villain, and not those likable rogues he would play later when he was an established star. We're talking out-and-out bad guys, backstabbing and betrayal around every corner. But relative unknown or established star, Douglas pulls it off. Even when he was the hero, he always had that edge to him under the surface...a good guy who was capable of bad when the time came. 'Walk' is nothing special in itself, a pretty average film noir overall, but the performances from Douglas and his two co-stars make it worthwhile.
After serving a 14-year sentence in prison, Frankie Madison (Burt Lancaster) has finally received his parole. His release has been a long time coming, especially because of his deteriorating relationship with his old friend and partner, Noll 'Dink' Turner (Douglas). During his time in jail, Frankie was not visited by Dink even once, only receiving a monthly carton of cigarettes. Now an established club owner, Turner is suspicious of his old pal's motives, and rightfully so. Before Frankie was sent away, the two men made an agreement, one Frankie has been counting on to start over with his life. It is an agreement that Turner has no intention of living up to. With money and fame on the line, what will happen when the two meet?
I should point something out before I dive too far into the review, something that will no doubt make me look not so good, but what are you going to do? When I recorded this off TCM recently, I accidentally hit 'Mute' on the remote. Our new digital recording literally tapes what's going on at that moment. In other words, it doesn't tape something and you can turn it up or put closed captioning on. It is as is. Sssssssso in other words, I had to watch this movie via closed captioning on mute. Yeah, I'm pretty much a genius. Just a word of warning.
The last half of the 1940s was a stomping ground for up and coming actors to make a name for themselves. Think of actors like Robert Mitchum, Lancaster and Douglas. The latter two would both shoot to stardom in the years following, and obviously hit it off, working together in movies like Gunfight at the O.K. Corral, Seven Days in May, and The Devil's Disciple. It's fitting that they worked so well together. Both Lancaster and Douglas were two of the most versatile actors to ever grace the screen. Intense drama, high-flying action, physical and/or smart comedy, they could do it all. They were intensely likable as actors -- for me at least -- and seeing them play off each other is always enjoyable.
As old friends turned rivals, the duo is the biggest reason I can recommend this movie. Playing heavy dramatic roles, these two are intense, like caged animals just waiting to attack each other. They play mind games back and forth, seeing who will blink first. A short flashback shows their history that set up the current dilemma, a promise made in a pressure situation coming back to bite them both in the butt. Lancaster is driven to do right and gets what he's owed while Douglas is the slippery baddie looking out for No. 1 and that's all. Lizabeth Scott (<---I don't know where the 'E' went) plays Kay, a singer working in Turner's club who at first takes pity on Frankie only to genuinely fall for him while Kristine Miller plays Mrs. Richardson, a well-to-do widow and possible sugar momma to Turner. Wendell Corey has a good supporting part as Dave, Turner's beaten down, mousey accountant.
The movie itself is pretty blah overall. The story takes place over a 24-hour time period, and a whole lot sure gets accomplished in such a quick time span. As good as the acting and the performances are, the story lacks any real energy. The mind games back and forth are interesting, but it's extremely obvious where everything is heading; Frankie vs. Noll, man to man. It's never boring, but it never amounts to a particularly memorable movie. Check it out for the acting, and remember to keep the volume up.
I Walk Alone <---TCM trailer (1948): ** 1/2 /****
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