Movie spotlight
The Criminal
A criminal kidnaps a girl from her wealthy family and demands a ransom. When the family refuses to pay, he entrusts the daughter to a poor family to raise her and their only son. One day, a wealthy woman sees a striking resemblance to her lost son in the poor family's son and decides to raise him. When he grows up, he meets the girl who was raised with him when he was young.
Insights
Plot Summary
A down-on-his-luck boxer, Johnny McBride, is manipulated into participating in a jewel heist by a manipulative socialite, Linda Parker. After the heist goes awry, McBride finds himself framed for murder and on the run from the law, desperately trying to clear his name and expose the real culprits.
Critical Reception
The Criminal (1954) is a lesser-known noir film that received mixed reviews upon its release. While some critics praised its tense atmosphere and solid performances, particularly from Zachary Scott, others found the plot convoluted and predictable. It is often regarded as a B-movie that delivers standard genre thrills but lacks the depth or innovation of more celebrated film noirs.
What Reviewers Say
Praised for its gritty portrayal of the criminal underworld.
Criticized for a somewhat predictable plot progression.
Zachary Scott's performance as the conflicted protagonist was a highlight.
Google audience: Audience reception data for 'The Criminal (1954)' is not readily available.
Fun Fact
The film was shot in black and white, a standard practice for most films of this era, and contributes to its classic film noir aesthetic.
AI-generated overview · Verify ratings on official sources