Thieves' Highway, an unconventional film noir directed by Jules Dassin, delves into the world of trucking and introduces Richard Conte as Nick Garcos, a war veteran truck driver seeking justice and revenge.
The film kicks off with a compelling inciting incident as Nick returns home from the war to discover that his father lost his legs under mysterious circumstances that he cannot recall. This sets the stage for a revenge-driven narrative, with all signs pointing to unscrupulous produce dealer Mike Figlia, portrayed by Lee J. Cobb, as the prime suspect.
In a departure from the typical Hollywood protagonist, Nick lacks direct evidence against Figlia. Instead, he takes a practical approach by teaming up with Ed Kinney (Millard Mitchell), who purchased his father's truck. Their plan involves selling cartons of apples at a substantial profit in San Francisco's produce market.
Director Jules Dassin succeeds in crafting multi-dimensional characters, such as Kinney, who initially displays questionable behavior but later proves his worth by saving Nick from a potentially fatal accident. Nick himself is not a flawless hero, as he exhibits impetuousness and finds himself in life-threatening situations while fixing a flat tire.
Figlia's malicious nature becomes apparent when he sabotages Nick's truck by letting the air out of the tires and orchestrates a scheme involving a prostitute named Rica (Valentina Cortese) to distract Nick while his apples are stolen and sold at inflated prices. Rica, though fitting the stereotype of a prostitute with a heart of gold, is portrayed by a foreign actress, a reflection of Dassin's working-class bias. Conversely, Nick's American girlfriend, Polly (Barbara Lawrence), rejects him after he loses all his money due to Figlia's thugs.
The narrative maintains a brisk pace, and a particularly exhilarating sequence unfolds as Kinney meets a fiery demise in a truck crash caused by faulty brakes. The two opportunistic vultures trailing Kinney have a falling out, revealing that not all wheeler-dealers lack a conscience, as one of them strikes a deal with Figlia to sell the scattered apples at the crash scene.
However, Thieves' Highway falters with an unconvincing climax. Despite Figlia's portrayal as a dangerous gangster, he surprisingly capitulates when confronted by Nick. One would expect his armed thugs to eliminate Nick on the spot. Furthermore, the arrival of the police prevents Nick from exacting his revenge, with an officer chastising him for taking matters into his own hands.
While the film falls short in its resolution, offering an ineffective depiction of the antagonist, it maintains a decent pace, boasts characters with some depth, and defies Hollywood conventions with the portrayal of a romance involving a prostitute. Consequently, Thieves' Highway earns a tepid 6 out of 10 rating.
The film kicks off with a compelling inciting incident as Nick returns home from the war to discover that his father lost his legs under mysterious circumstances that he cannot recall. This sets the stage for a revenge-driven narrative, with all signs pointing to unscrupulous produce dealer Mike Figlia, portrayed by Lee J. Cobb, as the prime suspect.
In a departure from the typical Hollywood protagonist, Nick lacks direct evidence against Figlia. Instead, he takes a practical approach by teaming up with Ed Kinney (Millard Mitchell), who purchased his father's truck. Their plan involves selling cartons of apples at a substantial profit in San Francisco's produce market.
Director Jules Dassin succeeds in crafting multi-dimensional characters, such as Kinney, who initially displays questionable behavior but later proves his worth by saving Nick from a potentially fatal accident. Nick himself is not a flawless hero, as he exhibits impetuousness and finds himself in life-threatening situations while fixing a flat tire.
Figlia's malicious nature becomes apparent when he sabotages Nick's truck by letting the air out of the tires and orchestrates a scheme involving a prostitute named Rica (Valentina Cortese) to distract Nick while his apples are stolen and sold at inflated prices. Rica, though fitting the stereotype of a prostitute with a heart of gold, is portrayed by a foreign actress, a reflection of Dassin's working-class bias. Conversely, Nick's American girlfriend, Polly (Barbara Lawrence), rejects him after he loses all his money due to Figlia's thugs.
The narrative maintains a brisk pace, and a particularly exhilarating sequence unfolds as Kinney meets a fiery demise in a truck crash caused by faulty brakes. The two opportunistic vultures trailing Kinney have a falling out, revealing that not all wheeler-dealers lack a conscience, as one of them strikes a deal with Figlia to sell the scattered apples at the crash scene.
However, Thieves' Highway falters with an unconvincing climax. Despite Figlia's portrayal as a dangerous gangster, he surprisingly capitulates when confronted by Nick. One would expect his armed thugs to eliminate Nick on the spot. Furthermore, the arrival of the police prevents Nick from exacting his revenge, with an officer chastising him for taking matters into his own hands.
While the film falls short in its resolution, offering an ineffective depiction of the antagonist, it maintains a decent pace, boasts characters with some depth, and defies Hollywood conventions with the portrayal of a romance involving a prostitute. Consequently, Thieves' Highway earns a tepid 6 out of 10 rating.