Panic in the Streets (1950)

Must See Movie...

Highly Overrated But Still Good

This is a tender, generous movie that likes its characters and presents them as real people, full of flaws and strengths.

When a movie has you begging for it to end not even half way through it's pure crap. We've all seen this movie and this characters millions of times, nothing new in it. Don't waste your time.

This was Jack Palance's debut in films as an actor (or should I say "Walter" Jack Palance, for some reason that's there in the credits), and he eats up every second of film he has. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, and in a way it helps to lift up a character who has little dimension. He doesn't need it, you could argue: he's a thug who wants his money, that's it, and will do anything he can to get it (this may include killing, of course, which we see very early on as the thing that kicks off much of the story). He is imposing too physically, with that chiseled face and tall frame - at one point he talks to someone who is quite short and the difference between the two is like night and day - and he also is believable to the point where you realize why Zero Mostel (also very good as the talky-kinda-dumb lackey) is so subservient. Not much depth, no, but who needs depth when Palance can kick your ass any way to Sunday? In this story it's a film-noir but unique in that it's focus is not about a man-hunt only for the killer, but because of a plague (not the Bubonic plague, the other one the Numonic plague or other, the one that you just need to know is around now), and Richard Widmark plays the stalwart, headstrong doctor who will get his job done to catch the people infected (or even those, especially those, who may not be yet) into quarantine and given shots and so on. He's up against cops (including a sometimes-sympathetic-sometimes-not Paul Douglas), and a bevvy of other cops and reporters.Some of the early scenes with Widmark's family is pretty standard - he has a nice and loving and family, OK, that's fine - but once that's out of the way the story kicks in and it has a natural momentum to it. An outbreak or contagion-type of story is intrinsically dramatic because it brings people together - or, on the flip-side, it drives people apart and shows what self-interested idiots people can be some/most of the time. I don't know if Kazan meant for this to have deeper sociological meaning like On the Waterfront. Maybe the hunt for the people who've come in contact with the infected is a euphemism for Communism, or maybe not, it doesn't seem as cut and dry to me as in the latter film.In any case Panic in the Streets is engaging and enjoyable as a no-frills thriller, a picture that uses human nature and the lack of speaking up about something grave and dangerous as a way of forward momentum - who will speak up first, who won't - and if you want a simple cops and criminals chase story you get that also. I think it holds up most of all due to the performances though, even including the story, since Widmark, Panace, Mostel et al beef up the material with the kind of emotion that I'm sure Kazan was great at coaxing out of his actors (whether it was making them relaxed enough or getting them into the 'method' of it in the case of Palance I don't know).

Elia Kazan is not at his best here; East of Eden, Splendor in the Grass, A Streetcar Named Desire and especially On the Waterfront are superior films. Panic in the Streets is still a very good, often excellent even, film and is very much an under-appreciated effort from him.Panic in the Streets visually is not as audacious as the aforementioned films, it's not a bad-looking film at all actually as it's nicely shot and atmospherically lit but sometimes the lower budget does show in some less-than-taut editing. It also has some slightly draggy stretches in the middle and as a result of a lot going on the film occasionally feels over-stuffed.Kazan's direction impresses though, first thoughts was that it was an unusual choice of film for him to take on, but he still directs with his usual class and tension and some of the themes here not at all unlike some of those of his other films(i.e Gentlemen's Agreement). Alfred Newman's often exciting, always atmosphere-enhancing music score compliments the film beautifully, and all the characters are very well-written and believable, Blackie for me especially was a very interesting character. It's the script, story and acting where Panic in the Streets most strongly excels however.The script boasts some truly cracking dialogue, with some witty exchanges ("You know, my mother always told me if you looked deep enough in anybody, you always find some good, but I don't know"/" With apologies to your mother, that's the second mistake she made") and a lot of tension, tension so strong sometimes that one might find themselves with significantly shorter nails by the end of the film from biting. There is a lot going on in the story, occasionally it feels over-stuffed, but it's compellingly paced, all the different plot strands are handled with no less detail than the one before it, it's very focused and doesn't focus too much on one thing and completely under-develop another, and even with a lot going on it didn't feel confusing, a lot of effort actually is made into making the storytelling as clear as possible and it is always tense and exciting. Panic in the Streets contains some really powerful acting, with Richard Widmark- in a good guy role- giving one of his most restrained performances, and it is hard to believe that this was only Jack Palance's film debut, he's spine-chilling here in a performance that to me ranks among his better ones. Paul Douglas, Barbara Bel Geddes and Zero Mostel don't play any less compellingly, Douglas contrasts very likeably with Widmark, Bel Geddes is very touching and Mostel is amusing and creepy while wisely reigning in in a role that he could have easily over-acted.Overall, not one of Kazan's best but a very good, and often excellent, film, that is very much under-appreciated. 8/10 Bethany Cox

Elia Kazan directed this thriller that stars Richard Widmark as Dr. Clinton Reed, Lt. Commander of the Public Health Service who is called upon when a murder victim in New Orleans also shows signs of bubonic plague, and he is determined to track down anyone who may have had contact with the victim, which is difficult to do when they don't even know who he is. Reed tries to convince disbelieving civil authorities of its importance, since the infection could spread in 48 hours if not stopped. Jack Palance and Zero Mostel play two crooks who are infected, but don't know it. Suspenseful and smart film with fine acting, and an interesting storyline unique for its time.

If you've read my reviews for the last several days, you know that I'm on a kick to watch the available movies/TV shows of various original "Dallas" cast members-both recurring and regular-in chronological order during this summer of the new "Dallas" show now airing on TNT. So it's now I decided to watch Ms. Barbara Bel Geddes in 1950 co-starring above the title with Richard Widmark and Paul Douglas in this, a thrilling crime drama directed by the great Elia Kazan entirely in the city of New Orleans which is a two-hour drive from where I currently live in. Ms. Bel Geddes plays Widmark's wife and as such, doesn't really have many scenes in the movie that would be worthy of her billing but she did the best she could with what she was given with Widmark who plays a doctor that's looking for anyone who's come in contact with a killed victim since that victim had the plague that could contaminate the city. Paul Douglas is the cop who initially wants the doc to stay out of his way but reluctantly allows the investigation. As good as Widmark and Douglas are, it's really the thugs played by Zero Mostel and especially Walter Jack Palance-who'd eventually drop the first of his name-in his film debut that make the most impression. I also loved the atmosphere that one could only get from location shooting not to mention the cool background music of the Jazz sounds that originally came from the Crescent City. Really, I can't get over how much I loved this movie for the most part. So on that note, that's a high recommendation of Panic in the Streets.