Live Fast, Die Young (1958) Tail Fin Noir

I was expecting low budget junk but the film was surprisingly well made.

Directed by Actor Paul Henreid (who appeared in Now, Voyager (1942), Casablanca (1942), Hollow Triumph (1948), and Rope of Sand (1949), and directed A Woman's Devotion (1956), and Girls on the Loose (1958) a sort of thematic companion to this film, along with Dead Ringer (1964) and lots of 50s and 60s TV fare. The screenplay was written by Allen Rivkin and Ib Melchior, from a story by Ib Melchior and Edwin B. Watson. The Cinematography was by Philip H. Lathrop (Cry Tough (1959), Lonely Are The Brave (1962), The Americanization of Emily (1964), who continued to give us Neo Noirs, Experiment in Terror (1962), Point Blank (1967) and They Shoot Horses, Don't They? (1969).

The film stars Mary Murphy (The Turning Point (1952), The Wild One (1953), Hell's Island (1955)) as Kim Winters who also provides the voice over narration, Norma Eberhardt as Jill Winters her younger sister. Mike Connors (Sudden Fear (1952), Mannix TV Series (1967–1975)) as Rick, Sheridan Comerate as Jerry, Peggy Maley (The Wild One (1953), Human Desire (1954), The Brothers Rico (1957)) as Sue Hawkins, Troy Donahue (A Summer Place (1959)) as Artie Sanders, Carol Varga (Dyesebel (1953)) as Violet, Joan Marshall (Mike Hammer TV Series (1958–1959), Homicidal (1961) and played Wilma in The Twilight Zone (TV Series) episode - Dead Man's Shoes (1962)), as Judy Tobin, Gordon Jones who played Mike the Cop in The Abbott and Costello Show TV Series (1952–1957), as Pop Winters, Robert Karnes  (Road House (1948) and twelve other Classic Noir) as Tommy "Tubbs" Thompson, Robert Carson (three Classic Noir) as Frank Castellani, John Harmon (six Classic Noir) as Jake, a Hobo, and Norman Leavitt (four Classic Noir) as Sam, a hotel clerk.

Norma Winters (Eberhardt)  and Kim Winters (Murphy)

Kim (Murphy) and Norma Winters (Eberhardt) are two sisters living with their barely employed juicer of a father (Jones) in Hoboken, New Jersey. Kim has been employed as a waitress since her teens, supporting daddy and sissy, after mommy blew town with a traveling salesman. Norma, still in high school, is a wild child, chomping at the bit to cut loose.

Pop Winters (Jones)

Pop is always critical of Norma who is bored with school and lazy. After their last fight, Norma packs a bag steals $20 out of Kim's purse and splits. When she runs out of cash she tries to scam a flop house hotel manager into letting he work of a room. He lecherously agrees, telling her to start with his room. Once inside he tries to get really friendly. Norma is rescued by a B-Girl Sue Hawkins who lets her bunk with her. Sue takes Norma to a local dive bar where she learns to roll drunks for their money and valuables.

another argument

deciding to split

"Norma's left home"

I'll do anything for a room

Sue Hawkins (Maley) and Norma

rolling a drunk

Setting off on her own Norma with her new found talent rolls drunks all the way to the West coast. Meanwhile Kim leaves Pop, and heads out tracking Norma down.

B-Girls, Violet (Varga )and Sue Hawkins

Norma hitching a ride at a truck stop

getting friendly

In Nevada Norma makes a killing with a guy who had a gold watch, $2000 in cash and owned a new Cadillac convertible. After hocking the watch, Norma takes off in the caddy for The City Of Angles with an introductory tip to a big fencing stolen goods operation.

Paradise

Norman working the Paradise

 

Fencing a gold watch

In L.A, Norma is accepted into the gang and is in on a big jewelry heist. Kim arrives in L.A. finds Norma and convinces her to let her also join the gang, and it all goes Noirsville.

Noirsville

Caddy tail fins

tail fins

Tail Fins

Artie Sanders (Troy Donahue)

Rick ( Mike Connors)

Tail Fins

Another Beat Generation, juvenile delinquent Noir, but this one is sans most of the hip slang with hardly any references to the beats, but it does emphasize Norma's penchant for Jazz. It's all pretty "Code" tame and doesn't push any boundaries. Henreid does a good job of keeping the pace moving, though the ending seems a bit rushed. Could use a restoration. 6/10