99 River Street

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99 River Street

Released Jan 1, 1953

1h 23m

Crime

Drama

Action

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100%

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8 Reviews

80%

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250+ Ratings

Cab driver and ex-boxer Ernie (John Payne) discovers his wife Pauline (Peggie Castle) has been cheating on him. Ernie is approached by actress friend Linda (Evelyn Keyes), who says that she needs his help because she killed a man during an audition. After rushing to the theater, Ernie discovers that Linda's desperate tale was the audition. As if that humiliation isn't enough, Ernie is then framed for Pauline's murder by her lover, jewel thief Victor Rawlins (Brad Dexter).

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Derek Smith

Slant Magazine

Phil Karlson’s 99 River Street is, along with Kansas City Confidential, an exemplar of the director’s brutal, cynical, economical approach to noir.

Aug 11, 2024

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Manny Farber

The Nation

The plot is routine, but the direction, which seems to dislike anything that smacks of the phrase "don't get excited,'' makes the picture worth seeing.

Nov 24, 2020

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Nicholas Bell

IONCINEMA.com

A romantic-tinged noir focusing on unabashed wash-outs and sell-outs, 99 River Street is a lot less hopeless than it initially seems on the surface, and is an enjoyable, minor genre gem.

Rated: 3/5

Oct 8, 2020

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Sean Axmaker

Stream on Demand

99 River Street, arguably Karlson's greatest film and certainly his most beautifully brutal, is a film driven by the fury of a man who is tired of being life's punching bag.

Jan 5, 2018

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

[UPDATED 2024 BLU-RAY REVIEW] Has any other cinematic genre offered as many buried treasures as film noir? Here's another unpolished gem to add to the stack.

Rated: 3/4

Jun 25, 2016

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Jeffrey M. Anderson

Combustible Celluloid

Phil Karlson directed series of very tough, violent film noirs, but few of them are as tough and violent as the superb 99 River Street.

Jul 16, 2010

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acsdoug D

If you're not a fan of the noir genre you probably won't like this one. If you are you probably will, despite Evelyn Keyes' overacting.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

07/24/24

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Blobbo X

Ending not so noir. That ok, think Blobbo!

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

11/09/23

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Bill B

Over rated. Way too many dopey situations to be a gripping noir affair. Dexter plays a convincing villain, though, and most of the film I was waiting for someone to wipe the smirk off his face.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

08/01/23

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Aldo G

John Payne delivers a knockout performance as a former prize fighter whose cheating wife gets involved with a jewel thief played by Brad Dexter. Evelyn Keyes has the unenviable task of trying to help Payne's character out of a frame up. The rest of the supporting cast of crime film veterans answer the bell and director Phil Karlson almost goes the distance but stumbles in the last five minutes.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

05/19/23

Full Review

Audience Member

The greatest 01 hour: and 23 minutes ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/11/23

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s r

Well made, well acted and good plot. Really an underrated gem.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

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Phil Karlson

Director

John Payne

Ernie Driscoll

Evelyn Keyes

Linda James

Brad Dexter

Victor Rawlins

Frank Faylen

Stan Hogan

Peggie Castle

Pauline Driscoll

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Synopsis

Cab driver and ex-boxer Ernie (John Payne) discovers his wife Pauline (Peggie Castle) has been cheating on him. Ernie is approached by actress friend Linda (Evelyn Keyes), who says that she needs his help because she killed a man during an audition. After rushing to the theater, Ernie discovers that Linda's desperate tale was the audition. As if that humiliation isn't enough, Ernie is then framed for Pauline's murder by her lover, jewel thief Victor Rawlins (Brad Dexter).

Director: Phil Karlson
Producer: Edward Small
Screenwriter: Robert Smith, George Zuckerman
Distributor: United Artists
Production Co: United Artists
Genre: Crime, Drama, Action
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 1, 1953, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): May 17, 2017
Runtime: 1h 23m
Sound Mix: Mono

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