The Burglar

1957
Approved
1h 30m

IMDb RATING

6.5/10

YOUR RATING

Play trailer1:59

1 Video

60 Photos

Film Noir Drama Thriller

Dan Duryea and his cronies rob a fake spiritualist and then take it on the lam to Atlantic City.Dan Duryea and his cronies rob a fake spiritualist and then take it on the lam to Atlantic City.Dan Duryea and his cronies rob a fake spiritualist and then take it on the lam to Atlantic City.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.5/10

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Trivia
Filmed in the summer of 1955 but not released until 1957, in order to cash in on the sudden fame of Jayne Mansfield.

Goofs
The 1951 Chevy driven by Nat Harbin is described as "light gray" over the police radio and in the teletype voice-over, yet the description on the teletype reads that the car is "green."

Quotes
Della: What's your name?
Nat Harbin: Nathaniel... Say, what is this? What do you want?
Della: Basically - basically, I'm out to find myself a man. Wait for me outside.
Nat Harbin: Are you kidding?
Della: No. No, Nathaniel, I'm not kidding.
Nat Harbin: Well, that's tough on you. Sorry, no sale.
Della: [slaps Nat] Just to let you know, I'm - not selling anything.

Crazy credits
All credits are in lower case, including title card, cast list, crew names and occupations, and "the end".

Connections
Featured in Jayne Mansfield: La tragédie d'une blonde (2013)

Soundtracks
You Are Mine
Vocal by Vince Carson
Music and Lyrics by Bob Marcucchi and Pete DeAngelo
[Gladden and Charlie dance to the song at the club in Atlantic City]

User reviews38

Review

Featured review

6/10

This should pass some time quite well

Let's break this film into 3 scenes: the intro and robbery – good. The ending – good. The wordy bit in the middle – awful.

There is a reasonable (not brilliant) story in there and the cast make a good fist of that but the overly emotional scenes which bind the story together just don't work. That the score is overpowering doesn't help.

But this film could have been so much better if it was tightened up. There are some decent jazz rhythms humming away in the background which could have been worked on and the dramatisation I refer to in the middle could also have been better arranged.

On the plus side, the seedy setting suits the film and I appreciate the straightforward action – no need for choreographed martial arts when a few decent punches (carefully played in the background) do the job.

I wouldn't go out of my way to watch this film again but...if you have 90 minutes to kill it is worth persevering with.