NYC Noir Triple Feature: The Tattooed Stranger, Cop Hater, and Blast of Silence

The Film Forum offered a special triple feature today, offering three films that I, and not many people in the packed house, have ever heard of-"The Tattooed Stranger," "Cop Hater," and "Blast of Silence." While it may not have been the most exciting four hours ever made, the three films were an interesting comparision to, not only each other, but to the other films in the theatre. These were all made after the 1950's, and there is a strong difference between the content and the pacing as opposed to something like "The Big Clock" or "The Woman in the Window." There seems to be more experimentation going on, and the content becomes very racy.

The Tattooed Stranger(1950) *1/2
64 Minutes
Directed by Edward Montagne

First up was Edward Montagne's "The Tattooed Stranger," which would probably be considered a short film to today's massive lengths-this is barely an hour long. At the start of the film a man finds the dead body of a woman with a Navy tattoo on her arm. The body was left in the car. What follows is a standard police pocredural as two detectives investigate who the woman is and why she was killed. There isn't anything remotely special about "The Tattooed Stranger." There is questioning and follow ups and evidence that is taken into consideration. It's like watching an episode of "Law and Order" or "CSI." This is one of those movies you find on Turner Classic Movies in the middle of the afternoon-a "classic" in the loosest sense of the term, but nothing important to really need to showcase. Look out for a cameo by Jack Lord when he wasn't anybody.

Next up. ..

Cop Hater (1958) ***
75 Minutes
Directed by William A. Berke

Now this is the type of film I was expecting when I heard the title of the series-NYC Noir. This is New York City at some of its seediest moments. "Cop Hater" is another police procedural only this one has actual twists and turns and there is a satisfying conclusion. Robert Loggia stars as Detective Steve Carelli who is charge of a case where cops are being killed. There is also a side romance story that takes up too much screen time with his deaf and mute girlfriend, soon to be wife. Since they can't have a conversation, the several times they appear on screen together they are either kissing or hugging. I was shocked by the racy content, and a title card before the credit sequence was from the British Film Board, saying that people 16 and under were not allowed in the movie. This film is brimming with sexual undertones-from the wife of a cop wearing a revealing bathing suit, to which he picks her up and carries her into another room. Back in the day stuff like that was slowly coming out into the open, but it still was pretty gritty to today's standards. You could also see a difference in the format of the opening credits. The titles and the end credits are all over action scenes instead of having their own cards before the story starts.

And finally. . .

Blast of Silence (1961) **1/2
77 Minutes
Directed by Allen Baron

"Blast of Silence" is certainly the most edgy in terms of taking chances directing, and it has some very interesting shots, and is fascinating character study of a professional killer who begins to have second chances as he is assigned to kill a man during Christmas week. Most of the film this character, played well by Allen Baron, who also directed and wrote the film, is being talked to by a great narrator (whose name is unknown to me-and I did research and could not find out so if anyone knows, drop me a comment). This narrator is agressive and angry, reminding him that he likes to me alone. He likes it that way.

There is no doubt that this was quite an explosive film. From the very shot, right after the production logo there is the sound of a baby screaming and a train whistling, comparing birth to leaving a train tunnel. It really does hook you, but my main problem was that the movie was a little too slow. I could never really get into it on that level, even though this is certainly a gritty and hard boiled noir. There is no Hollywood ending. There are no characters you really can like, or that even try to get you to like them. You follow this hit man without knowing much about him. Features great shots of New York during Christmas time, which you can bask in if the story doesn't grab you.

For more information on NYC Noir, visit the Film Forum Website!