Synopsis
Criss Cross is a classic film noir from 1949 directed by Robert Siodmak. It tells the story of Steve Thompson, an armored truck driver who becomes caught up in a heist plot orchestrated by his manipulative ex-wife and her dangerous new boyfriend.
Why Watch It
Siodmak crafts a sleek noir that turns the heist inside out—watching a man methodically engineer his own destruction proves more thrilling than any robbery. Burt Lancaster commands the screen with magnetic desperation, while the film's fatalistic logic and crackling dialogue make every betrayal feel inevitable.
Did You Know?
- Criss Cross was released in 1949 by Universal International Pictures.
- It's an adaptation of the novel 'Criss Cross' by Don Tracy.
- Yvonne De Carlo's singing voice was dubbed by Carol Richards.
- Film is credited for popularizing the heist-gone-wrong crime film motif.
- Director Robert Siodmak's brother, Curt Siodmak, was a noted sci-fi writer.
Iconic Quotes
- One's too many and a hundred's not enough.
- You're an ambulance chaser. Even for a shyster, you're a shyster.
- I'd rather make an honest buck than a dishonest dime.
- It's a bitter little world full of sad surprises, and you don't let anyone hurt you.
- Once a chump, always a chump.
