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| Odds Against Tomorrow | |
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 Theatrical poster |
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| Directed by | Robert Wise |
| Produced by | Robert Wise Co-producer: Harry Belafonte |
| Written by | Story: William P. McGivern Abraham Polonsky Nelson Gidding |
| Starring | Harry Belafonte Robert Ryan Ed Begley Gloria Grahame |
| Music by | John Lewis |
| Cinematography | Joseph C. Brun |
| Editing by | Dede Allen |
| Distributed by | United Artists |
| Release date(s) | October 15, 1959 (U.S.A.) |
| Running time | 96 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Odds Against Tomorrow is a 1959 film noir crime film produced and directed by Robert Wise. The movie, featuring Harry Belafonte, is the first noir of the classic period with a black protagonist. Belafonte selected Abraham Polonsky, who had written and directed Force of Evil, to write the script, which is based on a novel by William P. McGivern. As a blacklisted writer Polonsky used a front, John O. Killens, a black novelist and friend of Belafonte's. In 1997, the Writers Guild of America officially restored Polonsky's credit.1 Composer John Lewis of the Modern Jazz Quartet, contributed the film's jazz score.
French director Jean-Pierre Melville credited this film with being a formative influence on his work and made references to it in his films.
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Plot
The drama tells of David Burke (Ed Begley), a former policeman ruined when he refused to cooperate with State Crime Investigators. He has asked hard-bitten, racist ex-con Earl Slater (Robert Ryan) to rob an upstate bank with him, promising him $50,000 if the robbery is successful.
Burke also recruits Johnny Ingram (Belafonte), a nightclub entertainer who doesn’t want the job but who is addicted to gambling and is in debt.
At first Slater, who is supported by his girlfriend, Lorry (Shelley Winters), finds out Ingram is black and refuses the job but, realizing he needs the money, decides after all to join Ingram and Burke in the venture.
When they embark on the robbery tension between Ingram and Slater mount.
Cast
- Harry Belafonte as Johnny Ingram
- Robert Ryan as Earle Slater
- Shelley Winters as Lorry
- Ed Begley as Dave Burke
- Gloria Grahame as Helen
- Will Kuluva as Bacco
- Kim Hamilton as Ruth Ingram
- Mae Barnes as Annie
- Richard Bright as Coco
- Carmen De Lavallade as Kittie
- Lew Gallo as Moriarty
- Lois Thorne as Edie Ingram
- Wayne Rogers as Soldier in bar
- Zohra Lampert as Girl in Bar
- Allen Nourse as Melton Police Chief
Awards
Nomination
- Golden Globe Award: 1960 Best Film Promoting International Understanding.
References
External links
- Odds Against Tomorrow at the Internet Movie Database
- Odds Against Tomorrow at Allmovie
- Odds Against Tomorrow at the TCM Movie Database
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