Robert Wise’s Odds Against Tomorrow came along at the tail end of film noir’s steady decline in popularity in the 1950s and just before the civil rights movement reached its peak in the ’60s. The quintessential male icons of these two distinct eras clash in the film through the extremely confrontational yet mutually beneficial collaboration between a virulently racist ex-con, Earle (Robert Ryan), and a slick, Black jazz musician, Johnny (Harry Belaafonte).
The unlikely pair are brought together by a disgraced retired cop, Burke (Ed Begley), who caught wind of a robbery that’s a sure thing. If something sounds too good to be true in a noir, it always is, but the weaselly Earle’s too macho to let his doting wife, Lorry (Shelley Winters), continue being the breadwinner. Meanwhile, Johnny’s gambling debts have caused him to be estranged from his wife, Ruth (Kim Hamilton), as...
The unlikely pair are brought together by a disgraced retired cop, Burke (Ed Begley), who caught wind of a robbery that’s a sure thing. If something sounds too good to be true in a noir, it always is, but the weaselly Earle’s too macho to let his doting wife, Lorry (Shelley Winters), continue being the breadwinner. Meanwhile, Johnny’s gambling debts have caused him to be estranged from his wife, Ruth (Kim Hamilton), as...
- 2/1/2024
- by Derek Smith
- Slant Magazine
Courtesy of Kino Lorber
by Chad Kennerk
Considered the first film noir to feature a leading black protagonist, Odds Against Tomorrow is a vital entry in the noir canon. Directed by legend Robert Wise and produced by star Harry Belafonte’s HarBel Productions, the gritty look at racial tension is also one of cinema’s most important films about prejudice. Created amidst growing disquiet in America, the film heralds the explosive events to come at the dawn of the 1960s and the Civil Rights Movement.
The screenplay was based on the novel by William P. McGivern (The Big Heat) and secretly written by Abraham Polonsky, who penned the screenplays for films such as Body and Soul and Force of Evil. Polonsky had been blacklisted by the House Un-American Activities Committee, so Belafonte approached black novelist and friend John O. Killens to serve as the credited screenwriter. It would take until...
by Chad Kennerk
Considered the first film noir to feature a leading black protagonist, Odds Against Tomorrow is a vital entry in the noir canon. Directed by legend Robert Wise and produced by star Harry Belafonte’s HarBel Productions, the gritty look at racial tension is also one of cinema’s most important films about prejudice. Created amidst growing disquiet in America, the film heralds the explosive events to come at the dawn of the 1960s and the Civil Rights Movement.
The screenplay was based on the novel by William P. McGivern (The Big Heat) and secretly written by Abraham Polonsky, who penned the screenplays for films such as Body and Soul and Force of Evil. Polonsky had been blacklisted by the House Un-American Activities Committee, so Belafonte approached black novelist and friend John O. Killens to serve as the credited screenwriter. It would take until...
- 1/20/2024
- by Chad Kennerk
- Film Review Daily
"If we enjoy each other so much, then why did we stop talking??" Gravitas Ventures has unveiled an official trailer for an indie drama about friendship titled Dylan & Zoey, marking the feature directorial debut of filmmaker Matt Sauter. This will be out in November on VOD if anyone wants to watch. Two friends, whose relationship has grown fraught for reasons unknown, reunite over the course of one evening to bridge the gap that has divided them for so long. While picking up where they left off proves easy at first, they quickly realize that in order to truly heal, they must confront the traumas that fractured them. Blake Scott Lewis & Claudia Doumit co-star as the titular Dylan & Zoey. The indie cast includes Kim Hamilton, Malcolm Barrett, Bella Popa, Kyle Jones, and Kamahl Naiqui. I really hope by the end these two realize they should be a couple, because they really...
- 10/17/2022
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Why do we like horror and monster movies that routinely get labeled as ‘bad?’ Because many of them have great story ideas and look at the world from odd, warped viewpoints. Back when ‘warped’ wasn’t a prerequisite for All filmed entertainment (my exaggeration) this murderous rejuvenation tale could be appreciated as something unusual, even quirky. Jeez, the characters are even nastier than the people I know! Lovely Coleen Gray takes a chance on a downmarket Universal programmer and proves how well she can carry a movie, even through several dubious horror make-ups.
The Leech Woman
Blu-ray
Scream Factory
1960 / B&w / 1:85 widescreen / 77 min. / Street Date August 27, 2019 / Available from Scream Factory
Starring: Coleen Gray, Grant Williams, Phillip Terry, Gloria Talbott, John Van Dreelen, Estelle Hemsley, Kim Hamilton, Arthur Batanides, Murray Alper, Paul Thompson.
Cinematography: Ellis W. Carter
Film Editor: Milton Carruth
Original Music: Irving Gertz
Written by David Duncan, story by Ben Pivar,...
The Leech Woman
Blu-ray
Scream Factory
1960 / B&w / 1:85 widescreen / 77 min. / Street Date August 27, 2019 / Available from Scream Factory
Starring: Coleen Gray, Grant Williams, Phillip Terry, Gloria Talbott, John Van Dreelen, Estelle Hemsley, Kim Hamilton, Arthur Batanides, Murray Alper, Paul Thompson.
Cinematography: Ellis W. Carter
Film Editor: Milton Carruth
Original Music: Irving Gertz
Written by David Duncan, story by Ben Pivar,...
- 1/4/2020
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
“Racial Tolerance: It’s Good for America And good for Criminals!” Harry Belafonte’s second production is a noir keeper, thanks to a top-flight cast and sharp direction by Robert Wise. The big heist is on, but Robert Ryan’s anger management problem all but assures doom and disaster. It’s Wise’s last gritty action picture before moving up to big-scale audience pleasers; he pulls off some slick images with film sensitive to infra-red light.
Odds Against Tomorrow
Blu-ray
Olive Films
1959 / B&W / 1:77 widescreen / 96 min. / Street Date May 29, 2018 / available through the Olive Films website / 24.95
Starring: Harry Belafonte, Robert Ryan, Shelley Winters, Ed Begley, Gloria Grahame, Will Kuluva, Kim Hamilton, Mae Barnes, Richard Bright, Carmen De Lavallade, Lew Gallo, Lois Thorne, Wayne Rogers, Zohra Lampert, Mel Stewart, Cicely Tyson.
Cinematography: Joseph C. Brun
Film Editor: Dede Allen
Original Music: John Lewis
Written by John O. Killens (fronting for Abraham Polonsky), Nelson Gidding,...
Odds Against Tomorrow
Blu-ray
Olive Films
1959 / B&W / 1:77 widescreen / 96 min. / Street Date May 29, 2018 / available through the Olive Films website / 24.95
Starring: Harry Belafonte, Robert Ryan, Shelley Winters, Ed Begley, Gloria Grahame, Will Kuluva, Kim Hamilton, Mae Barnes, Richard Bright, Carmen De Lavallade, Lew Gallo, Lois Thorne, Wayne Rogers, Zohra Lampert, Mel Stewart, Cicely Tyson.
Cinematography: Joseph C. Brun
Film Editor: Dede Allen
Original Music: John Lewis
Written by John O. Killens (fronting for Abraham Polonsky), Nelson Gidding,...
- 5/29/2018
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
The late fashion designer Alexander McQueen has left $82,000 to his three pet dogs, People is reporting. Documents accompanying his will, which were made public on July 26, 2011, revealed that his pets, Minter, a mongrel; Juice, an English bull terrier; and Callum, a Rhodesian ridgeback, will receive the money for their continued care. McQueen, who committed suicide just days after his mother’s death in February 2010, was a known animal lover. He also donated $164,000 to two British animal charities, including Battersea Dogs & Cats Home and The Blue Cross. The two organizations are known for helping find homes for abandoned animals. In response to McQueen’s donation, Kim Hamilton,...
- 7/28/2011
- by karen
- ShockYa
A noted animal lover, Alexander McQueen made sure his furry friends were taken care of after his death. In documents made public Tuesday, McQueen's will revealed that the late fashion designer, who passed away in February 2010, left a sizable portion of his £16 million estate ($26 million U.S.) to his pet dogs and two British animal charities. Related: Josh Groban's New Fans: A Sleepy Seal and Giant Turtle McQueen's pets - Minter, a mongrel, Juice, an English bull terrier, and Callum, a Rhodesian ridgeback - inherited £50,000 ($82,000 U.S.) for their continued care. Meanwhile, £100,000 ($164,000 U.S.) was donated to Battersea Dogs...
- 7/26/2011
- by Kiran Hefa
- PEOPLE.com
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