Highway 301

1950
Approved
1h 23m

IMDb RATING

YOUR RATING

Gaby André, Wally Cassell, and Steve Cochran in Highway 301 (1950)

Cop Drama Film Noir Heist Police Procedural Crime Drama

Led by a psychopathic killer, a vicious gang of armed robbers terrorizes Virginia, Maryland and North Carolina, robbing banks and payrolls and murdering anyone who might identify them.Led by a psychopathic killer, a vicious gang of armed robbers terrorizes Virginia, Maryland and North Carolina, robbing banks and payrolls and murdering anyone who might identify them.Led by a psychopathic killer, a vicious gang of armed robbers terrorizes Virginia, Maryland and North Carolina, robbing banks and payrolls and murdering anyone who might identify them.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.8/10

1.2K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Photos12

+ 6

Top cast60

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William P. Lane Jr.

Self - Maryland Governor
(as The Honorable William P. Lane Jr.)

John S. Battle

Self - Virginia Governor
(as The Honorable John S. Battle)

W. Kerr Scott

Self - North Carolina Governor
(as Governor W. Kerr Scott)

Steve Cochran

George Legenza

Virginia Grey

Mary Simms

Gaby André

Lee Fontaine
(as Gaby Andre)

Edmon Ryan

Detective Sergeant Truscott

Robert Webber

William B. Phillips

Wally Cassell

Robert Mays

Aline Towne

Madeline Welton

Richard Egan

Herbie Brooks

Edward Norris

Noyes Hinton

Fred Aldrich

Cop with Machine Gun
(uncredited)

John Alvin

Bank Teller
(uncredited)

Richard Bartell

News Clerk
(uncredited)

Chet Brandenburg

Bank Customer
(uncredited)

Bill Cartledge

Elevator Boy
(uncredited)

Dick Cherney

Police Officer
(uncredited)

Director
- Andrew L. Stone
Writer
- Andrew L. Stone
All cast & crew
Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
The film's title, "Highway 301" (which is never mentioned in the film) refers to a U.S. highway that connects Maryland, Virginia and North Carolina, where the Tri-State Gang committed their crimes. According to TCM's Eddie Muller, the gang, led by Walter Legenza (played by Steve Cochran), embarked on their robbery and murder rampage "running roughshod through Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia, though Pennsylvania is not mentioned in the movie.

Goofs
After the bank robbery, a police officer finds the getaway car and calls it in to his headquarters by radio, using the call sign "KMA 367". The robbery takes place in North Carolina, but the "KMA 367" call sign--assigned by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)--is for the Los Angeles (CA) Police Dept. Call signs beginning with "K" are issued to departments on the West Coast, not the East Coast; East Coast departments are issued call signs beginning with "W".

Quotes
Detective Sergeant Truscott: [voice over] This is Winston-Salem, North Carolina, drowsing in the mid-afternoon sun of early spring, not knowing it had been chosen as the scene for the next exploit of the arrogant mob we know as "The Tri-State Gang". These men operated openly, wearing no masks, boldly flaunting the law. To escape detection, they simply killed anyone who might possibly get in their way.

Crazy credits
The cast and credits are given at the end of the movie.

Connections
Featured in Macon County Movie Club: Noir Night (2021)

Soundtracks
You Go to My Head
Music by J. Fred Coots
Lyrics by HavenGillespie
Played early on in a bar scene

User reviews31

Review

Featured review

6/10

Highway 301 (1950)

The criminal exploits of a small group of gangsters working in the Maryland/Virginia/North Carolina area. The docudrama subgenre of noir tends to produce few masterpieces and a lot of mediocrities. This one is closer to mediocrity, but has a few worthwhile assets. The intro, with "crime does not pay" lectures by the governors of the three states, sets the self-righteous, judgemental tone for the film's narration and messages. The story follows a standard formula, with early successes by the gang followed by the net of the law gradually closing around them and forcing their hand. The characterizations are fun but one-note. Steve Cochran in the lead has an edgy brutality but not much else. However, the action sequences are well done, and there is one nail-biting, suspenseful scene as one of the gangster's gals tries to escape. The photography is quite nice as well, at least during the gloomy night scenes.