PANIC IN THE STREETS (1950, USA, 96m, PG) ****
Crime, Drama, Film-Noir, Thriller
dist. Twentieth Century Fox; pr co. Twentieth Century Fox; d. Elia Kazan; w. Richard Murphy, Daniel Fuchs (based on a story by Edna Anhalt and Edward Anhalt); pr. Sol C. Siegel; ph. Joseph MacDonald (B&W | 1.37:1); m. Alfred Newman; ed. Harmon Jones; ad. Maurice Ransford, Lyle R. Wheeler.
cast: Richard Widmark (Lt. Cmdr. Clinton Reed), Paul Douglas (Capt. Tom Warren), Barbara Bel Geddes (Nancy Reed), Jack Palance (Blackie), Zero Mostel (Raymond Fitch), Dan Riss (Neff), Tommy Cook (Vince Poldi), Lewis Charles (Kolchak (uncredited)), H. Waller Fowler Jr. (Mayor Murray (uncredited)), Darwin Greenfield (Violet (uncredited)), Paul Hostetler (Lt. Paul Gaffney (uncredited)), Elia Kazan (Cleaver (uncredited)), Emile Meyer (Capt. Beauclyde (uncredited)), Guy Thomajan (Poldi (uncredited)), Val Winter (Commissioner Dan Quinn (uncredited)).
This expertly shot drama sees public health doctor Widmark called in to supervise an autopsy of an unknown man, discovering he died of pneumonic plague. Revealing his discovery to the mayor and city officials, Widmark is informed that he has just two days before the public will be told about a potential outbreak. Joined by New Orleans police captain Douglas in a race against time to find out where the unknown man came from, a city-wide manhunt for Palance and his fellow low lives commences. Wonderfully shot on location by MacDonald. Kazan keeps the story moving with tight editing, utilising cross-fade scene transitions to maintain momentum. Whilst some of the drama teeters on the verge of melodrama at times, the realism the locale provides helps to ensure the story retains its grip. Widmark is at his stoic best and spars well with Douglas, whilst Palance is superb in an imposing screen debut performance.
AA: Best Writing, Motion Picture Story (Edna Anhalt, Edward Anhalt)
