Perfect cast and a good story

just watch it!

n my opinion it was a great movie with some interesting elements, even though having some plot holes and the ending probably was just too messy and crammed together, but still fun to watch and not your casual movie that is similar to all other ones.

The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.

Adjectives such as "polished" and "worth seeing" could not be applied to Gangster Story (1960), which would not be worth watching at all were it not the only film directed by Walter Mathau. True, this movie actually offers further curiosity value in that the feminine lead, Carol Bruce, was in point of fact, Mathau's real-life wife. To my great surprise, Mathau himself is most unflatteringly photographed. Nevertheless, Mathau plays the title role with his usual zest, but his direction is no more than a poor man's television attempt in style, and it shows little inspiration until the action sequences. These at least are handled with a fair degree of competence and make good use of real locations. But maybe these scenes are actually the work of some experienced, but not credited, location director?

The only film directed by Walter Matheau is the first film to go on the worst of the year list for 2009. More home movie then real film this film is a mess. Dis-shelved in a way that Matheau's screen persona became in later years this film is just one big mess. This is the story of bank robber and cop killer who makes an escape to a small town where he robs the local bank and gets in deep with the local crime bosses. Its should be exciting, but its not, with only Matheau seeming to be the only real actor in the bunch. How Matheau got the job directing is beyond me, as is the notion that this was actually shown to a paying audience. Its amateur night at the cinema. The only thing I can think of was everyone in the cast and the director took ill and Matheau and the catering staff stepped in to make the movie. Do not waste your time this is a bad film, and not in a good way.

What a real pleasure for me to discover this flick. I was really amazed. Not a great picture, but short, sharp, accurate in action and characters. For a B movie I mean. No wasted shots in directing. Of course, we have already seen this scheme a thousand times, but it is still effective. Matthau is excellent and prepares us for "Charley Varrick", shot a decade later: A bank robber with the crime syndicate on his heels. No user seems to have noticed that.Description of the two heists of the film are delightful, meticulously described. And the bank robbery at the beginning is very funny. But this doesn't alter the tragic content of the story.

The immediate opening of the subject flick tells you the film was made on a shoelace budget. The film quality is so bad you might think it came from the silent era, that is, until you see the 1950's cars and hear the corny but semi-bluesy/cool theme song. Some of the action scenes are so campy and poorly shot that it almost comes across that Mr. Matthau is being intentionally sarcastic, trying to elicit some sardonic laughter from the viewers.But that's where I end my "Knocks". It's a terse, minimalistic melodrama that has a late 50's familiar story-line, but has an interestingly darker edge to it, as evidenced by the sequences of troubles he (Matthau) gets himself into. Also, his relationship with his love interest has a somewhat fresh developmental approach, aligned with the familiar Matthau coy sense of humor. As that relationship develops toward the conclusion of the film, you get a more solid feel of the real relationship evolving between the two lovers. To see how it all works out, check out the movie: it's worth the mere hour and 17 minutes!