Split Second
directed by Dick Powell
directed by Dick Powell
Split Second has the same plot lines as previous films such as Key Largo and The Petrified Forest, both Bogart vehicles.
It's probably no accident that the lead bad guy seems to be channeling Bogart. There's a nod to O. Henry's "The Ransom of Red Chief".
So originality is not this film's strong suit. That doesn't matter. This film looks at human emotions. Humans don't change that much. So why should our stories change? Some people believe that there are only a few basic stories that are told over and over again, regardless of time, race, or culture.
Split Second may feel familiar to people who haven't seen it or any other film noir for that matter.
Sam Hurley (Stephen McNally) is the nation's "Number One Killer". Sam has escaped from a Nevada prison with his older good buddy Bart Moore (Paul Kelly). They've killed two prison guards and a gas station attendant. Bart has been gut shot.
Sam doesn't think of himself as a mad dog killer but lacks much kindness. Stay out of his way. A WW2 veteran, Sam is cynical about the murders he's committed, seeing no difference between killing for country or for his own purposes.
With their mute gang member Dummy (Frank DeKova), Sam and Bart carjack a traveling couple Kay (Alexis Smith) and Arthur (Robert Paige). Kay and Arthur are not married to each other.
They are just doing the do. Kay 's husband is Neal (Richard Egan). Kay is a pampered attractive woman looking for excitement and male attention.
Kay thinks her husband Neal is boring and too nice. Kay also thinks that compared to Sam, Arthur looks weak.
When they run out of gas, the gang carjacks another couple, the cool headed crime reporter Larry (Keith Andes) and the va-va voom bad girl "dancer" Dottie (Jan Sterling). Split Second is coy about Dottie's other work but you can guess. Dottie wiggles when she walks!!
Sam plans to hideout overnight in a deserted mining town.
Sam has called Neal, a doctor, and threatened that if Neal doesn't perform life saving surgery on Bart, then Sam will kill Kay.
Sam was unaware that (a) Kay is seeking a divorce from Neal so Neal might lack interest in Kay's wellbeing and (b) at 6 AM sharp the next morning the government will perform an atomic bomb test with the town as ground zero. Sam and his gang must leave long before then to survive.
Split Second ratchets up the tension every minute. The women implicitly and explicitly implore the men to confront Sam, questioning their manhood. Arthur is vulnerable to this tactic. Kay might transfer her affections. Split Second says some things about male and female attraction.
Sam might have more in common with tough girl Dottie (ironically Jan Sterling came from a wealthy background) but Sam is fascinated by Kay's classy rich girl allure, though her allegiances fluctuate.
Should the hostages make a move? Larry's no fighter but he's watching and waiting. The dialogue was sparse and snappy, with just the right tough guy/tough gal spark and interplay. I loved it!
People too often assume that "strong" female characters are a modern invention. Wrong. The characters each show unexpected internal strengths and weaknesses.
Arthur Hunnicutt is the garrulous oldtimer Asa who gets taken hostage. This was a good movie. As usual, I was amazed by how slender everyone was.
