John Chard
The Devil Thumbs a Ride (1947) The Tierney Terror. The Devil Thumbs a Ride is directed and written by Felix E. Feist. It stars Lawrence Tierney, Ted North, Nan Leslie, Betty Lawford, Andrew Tombes, Harry Shannon, Glen Vernon and ...
Movie spotlight
The Devil Thumbs a Ride
1947
Movie
62 min
English
Steve Morgan kills a man in a holdup and hitches a ride to Los Angeles with Fergie. At a gas station, they pick up two women. Encountering a roadblock, Morgan takes over and persuades the party to spend the night at an unoccupied beach house. The police close in as one by one, the others learn that Morgan is a killer.
Insights
IMDb7.0/10
Director: Fletcher Markle•Genres: Film Noir, Crime, Mystery, Thriller
Plot Summary
A desperate drifter named Steve is picked up by a seemingly kind mechanic, only to discover that the car contains the body of a murdered woman. As Steve tries to extricate himself from the unfolding crime, he finds himself entangled with the victim's suspicious husband and a police detective.
Critical Reception
The Devil Thumbs a Ride is a lesser-known but highly regarded film noir, praised for its taut suspense, gritty atmosphere, and strong performances, particularly from Lawrence Tierney. It's considered a prime example of the genre's efficient storytelling and dark themes.
What Reviewers Say
Praised for its economical and suspenseful storytelling.
Lawrence Tierney's menacing performance is a highlight.
Effectively captures the bleakness and paranoia of film noir.
Google audience: Information not available.
Fun Fact
The film was originally intended as a "B" picture, but its quality and tight pacing led to it being well-received by critics and audiences alike.
AI-generated overview · Verify ratings on official sources
My Review
TMDB Reviews
1 reviews