Armored Car Robbery

The caper movie has since succumbed to over-familiarity and over-elaboration, but this one - pointing the way to The Asphalt Jungle and The Killing - is a model of its kind. Almost documentary in its account of the heist that goes wrong and the police procedures that are set in motion, making excellent use of LA locations, it relies on superb high contrast lighting to meld reality into the characteristic noir look. Vivid characterisations, too, from Talman as the vicious mastermind, Jergens as a sleazy stripper playing games, and McGraw as the steely cop out to avenge the death of his partner.