Dalbert Pringle
In spite of its big-name cast and fine camera-work, 1948's Criss Cross was somewhat disappointing and a less-than-riveting slice of Film Noir.Set in sunny Los Angeles, Armored Car Driver, Steve Thompson, gets re-acquainted with his less-than-trustworthy ex-wife, Anna, who's recently taken up with Slim Dundee, a notoriously jealous underworld thug.At times this film had the feel of being nothing but a standard "Chick Flick" and it lacked the necessary grit and overall toughness required, in my books, to make it a real, bona-fide Noir gem.Criss Cross starred Burt Lancaster, Yvonne De Carlo and Dan Duryea.
cinema_student2010
At times the plot got a little hard to follow, but at least it held my attention. I don't think there's anything special about the film,but its definitely not a bad one overall. Entertaining to see how the characters cross one another(hence the title) is somewhat suspenseful enough to make you wonder what is going to happen next. Was very interesting to see the female role kind of take on the lead as head bad guy and mastermind, which i would think would be very uncommon in films of that time. Anna, the female character, was extremely manipulative. It seemed to me that all she cared about was money. You actually come to feel bad for steve, because hes really just a man in love. One scene that was all too real for me and kind of freaked me out, the couple is running through a meat packing plant. And there's like cows, and parts of cows hanging everywhere.
jrippz
Truly, if Burt Lancaster was a fruit, he would be organic. Yvonne de Carlo would be all too ripe. Criss Cross, the simple noir, was very good for my tastes. It's an ingenious title because it's what happens the movie. I love watching my favorite characters get betrayed and tricked throughout the bustling course of the film. Yvonne is pretty in this movie. The ending was all too obvious, I saw it comin from a mile away. My eyes were wide open. If there's one thing I learned from this flick, is don't trust women. All they want is your money. Yvonne had a good heart but it was blocked by greed and evil.Goodnight.
b-kelly13
I had never seen a film from the film noir era prior to this film. I really enjoyed the story line of this film. It was interesting to see the male and female roles reversed. Normally we see the women in distress, and the man coming to her rescue. This film was the complete opposite. Steve, played by Burt Lancaster, was a man blinded by the love he had for his ex wife Anna, played by Yvonne DeCarlo. I enjoyed seeing a woman in charge.By Steve getting back involved with his ex wife, he was dragged into a secret underground world that she was now a part of. She was now involved with a man named Slim, who is nothing but trouble. Slim is involved with L.A.s mafia scene, something in which Steve did not expect to get dragged into.If you enjoy melodramas with some action, then this is a good film for you. I would enjoy to watch it again.
AD
