Thieves' Highway (1949)

Richard Conte (Nick) returns home after serving with the military and he brings gifts from all over the world for his mother, father and girlfriend. They don't go down well, though. His father Morris Carnovsky (Yanko) has lost both his legs in a trucking accident and has no need for a pair of Chinese slippers. Conte sets out for revenge for those responsible for his father's condition. It involves teaming up with trucker Millard Mitchell (Ed) and selling apples to market trader and bully boy Lee J Cobb (Mike).I was a bit wary of this film when it started. A film about trucks. Not my thing. However, this is more than just a film about trucks. But it is unbelievable in parts and the main examples of this come with Conte's encounters with gangster Lee J. I'm afraid Conte would have been disposed of pretty sharpish and there is no way he would have got away with such an antagonistic manner towards the king of the thugs. Even in the final climax, Lee J is seen as a cowering wreck when face-to-face with Conte. It doesn't make sense.My favourite in the cast are street girl Valentina Cortesa (Rica) and fellow trucker Jack Oakie (Slob). They both deliver funny lines and give the most notable performances. They win the acting honours for me. I usually find Oakie an irritant and groan if I see him on any cast list. However, he has won me around with this performance. His character has a conscience - sort of!

Thieves' Highway is directed by Jules Dassin and adapted to screenplay by A. I. Bezzerides from his own novel Thieves' Market. It stars Richard Conte, Valentine Cortese, Lee J. Cobb, Barbara Lawrence, Jack Oakie and Millard Mitchell. Music is by Alfred Newman and cinematography by Norbert Brodine.A war-veteran returns to the family home to find his father has been left wheelchair bound by a amoral produce dealer in San Francisco. Swearing revenge he sets himself up as a truck driver and heads off to Frisco with a truck load of Golden Delicious apples...Revenge, hope and desperation drives Dassin's intelligently constructed noir forward. It's a film very much interested in its characterisations as it doles out a deconstruction of the American dream. The familiar noir theme of a returning war-veteran kicks things off, with Nico Garcos (Conte) finding a crippled father and a money hungry bride to be waiting for him; welcome home sailor! From there Dassin and Bezzerides push a revenge theme to the forefront whilst deftly inserting from the sides the devils of greed and corruption of the California produce business.The trucks journey is brilliantly captured by the makers, both exciting and exuding the menace of the hard slog for truckers. Once Nico and his partner, Ed Kinney (Mitchell), get to Frisco and encounter bully business boy Mike Figlia (Cobb), underhand tactics come seeping out and the appearance of prostitute Rica (Cortese) into Nico's life adds a morally grey area that pings with sharp dialogue exchanges. Real location photography adds to the authentic feel of the story, and cast performances are quite simply excellent across the board.The code appeasing ending hurts the film a touch, inserted against Dassin's wishes, and there's a feeling that it should have been more damning with the economic tropes; while the fact that Nico's father is more concerned about being robbed of money than losing the use of his legs - is a bit strange to say the least. However, from a graveyard of tumbling apples to the fact that more than money is stolen here, Thieves' Highway is sharp, smart and engrossing stuff. 7.5/10

That's right! how many movies main character falls in love with a hooker these days, and please don't mention 'Pretty Woman'.This film is sensational, each and every performance is on the dime every time. Lee J Cobb is superb as the slimy Market Boss. Richard Conte is great, Stars of this period seem to have a little more to tell you, maybe they have had a few more knocks than many stars of today a little more life experience, whatever it is it helps tremendously when delivering tough performances, it's the same for many of these old schoolers, Paul Muni, John Garfield for example, and I will mention Valentina Cortese who plays Rica she has the same quality and remains beautiful so I'm not saying they have to look like Jack Palance to have a story book face, it's something that shines through regardless of appearance.Jack Oakie who plays Slob was a very endearing character in this movie and due to the Films serious vibe his likable demeanor was very welcome, he's like the old friend you never knew.The Love Story is very sincere, and very simple, and dare I say it very touching. Jeeze I'm almost gummy smiling, I must be eating too much estrogen, now where did I put my wine and chocolates?

Include a few interesting character actors as well,and you have an interesting mix.Overall,a noir film with a few unexpected twists.Not as much violence,but psychological intrigue and underhanded deeds,Richard Conte is believable as over the road produce trucker,attempting to avenge his father's misfortune.The trucking trade in Northern California at this time was extremely competitive and cutthroat,and Lee J.Cobb excels as the shady vendor who grafts and scams the truckers,at any cost necessary. Indeed,the catastrophic death of one trucker is directly caused by him,as he considers this to be mere collateral damage necessary for profit.Valentina Cortese also has an interesting part as a woman living on the fringe,surviving by default.An interesting period piece worth viewing. 9/10.