Movie spotlight
Rick Mason is the no-good lowdown rat who tries to capitalize on postwar patriotism and grief. He finagles a war widow into giving up her savings for a nonexistent memorial. When Mason falls in love with the widow he has pangs of conscience, but he reckons without his con-artist boss, who tends to bolster his arguments with muscle and bullets.
A returned war hero, feeling betrayed by his pre-war employer and lover, hatches a plan to exploit a wealthy heiress. He believes he can swindle her out of her fortune to rebuild his life and get revenge. However, his scheme becomes complicated by the arrival of a rival and his own burgeoning feelings for the woman he intends to deceive.
Larceny received a mixed to positive reception upon its release, often noted for its strong performances, particularly from Dan Duryea and Shelley Winters. Critics at the time generally appreciated its gritty atmosphere and the exploration of post-war disillusionment, though some found the plot predictable.
Praised for its dark, noir atmosphere and compelling performances.
Dan Duryea's portrayal of a morally ambiguous protagonist was frequently highlighted.
Some critics found the narrative to be somewhat conventional for the genre.
Google audience: Audience reception data from Google is not readily available for this film, but contemporary reviews suggest it was seen as a solid, if not groundbreaking, entry into the film noir genre.
The film is notable for its exploration of the darker psychological impacts of World War II on returning soldiers, a theme prevalent in many post-war noir films.
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Poor old war widow "Deb" (Joan Caulfield) is hoodwinked into donating her savings to build a memorial to her late husband by the sharp "Rick" (John Payne). It turns out that there is no such edifice, but "Rick" isn't able to be quite as col...