Rent Odds Against Tomorrow (1959)

Wise Does it Again - Odds Against Tomorrow review by CP Customer

Robert Wise proves he is a master of the crime genre with this entry. Far from his best work (The Haunting) its still a thrilling and captivating experience.

Heist Noir (spoiler). - Odds Against Tomorrow review by Steve

The classic three act structure of the heist film- preparation-execution-disintegration- is the frame for a study of the conflict between three men who bust into a bank in upstate New York. Ed Begley is an ex-cop looking for a payoff to set him straight after a stretch. He recruits an unlucky gambler in hock to the mob (Harry Belafonte) and a volatile redneck no-mark (Robert Ryan).

See the problem! The ongoing racial war dooms the caper. There is plenty of raw, unsubtle symbolism. The gang face off on adjacent petrol tanks and literally blow each other up, leaving charred corpses which can't be distinguished. Though this sounds simplistic, the situations are complex and interesting.

It's an ensemble film. Ryan is compelling as another of his combustable, stubborn bigots. Gloria Grahame is memorable in a cameo as a dumb, overripe tease. Harry Belafonte produced and he gives himself an elegant blues song.  Its unique atmosphere is also due to a fantastic cool-jazz soundtrack by the Modern Jazz Quartet.

Best of all is the phenomenal photography. This is visual art and one of the great picture books of New York. It has an expressionist look, not because of the sets, or lighting, but the distorting effect of the lens. It's one many classic genre films Robert Wise directed before he made blockbusters. Beyond its noirish fatalism, this is pure arthouse. 

bad - Odds Against Tomorrow review by CP Customer

lost sound after 20 mins or so into this DVD. Wish you would check quality before dispatch. Very unsatisfactory experience as this promised to be an excellent film with a great cast.