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A race-track robbery is planned with clockwork precision but Kubrick dispassionately observes how the mechanism is ruined by human fallibility. The intricate flashback structure presents a plot of chess-like moves in a hard boiled, visually stylised underworld richly populated by film noir stereotypes. Based on the novel “Clean Break” by Lionel White. Cast includes Sterling Hayden, Coleen Gray, Vince Edwards and Jay C Flippen.
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Collection
In ACMI's collection
Credits
Collection metadata
ACMI Identifier
309999
Language
English
Audience classification
PG
Subject categories
Courtroom, Crime, Espionage & Thrillers
Courtroom, Crime, Espionage & Thrillers → Film noir
Crime, Espionage, Justice, Police & Prisons → Crime
Crime, Espionage, Justice, Police & Prisons → Robbery
Feature films → Feature films - United States
Literature → American literature - Film and video adaptations
Sound/audio
Sound
Colour
Black and White
Holdings
VHS; Access Print (Section 1)