This is a light oater about an unrepentant bank robber, his fellow prisoners and a reformist Warden. I say "light" since there are some moments of real humor, but it's overall NOT a comedy, as some reviewers have called it. Rather, it's a drama with some humorous moments. The bank robber, Paris, superbly played by Kirk Douglas, had hidden $500,000 after the robbery. Paris keeps scheming to escape, offering a cut of the money to his fellow prisoners for help in escaping. Paris is a real con man and a charmer. However, he is foiled at nearly every turn by the new Warden, Lopeman (played by the great Henry Fonda). The Warden seems to have "seen it before" with everything that Paris tries. Excellent in supporting roles are Hume Cronyn, Warren Oates, Alan Hale and Burgess Meredith. There are a couple of real surprises at the end of the film. I truly enjoyed this and think it's well worth a watch.
Review of There Was a Crooked Man...
