DVD Corner

Crime Wave Blu-ray Review

“Crime Wave” is a top notch film noir.  

Based on the short story “Criminal’s Mark,” 1954’s “Crime Wave” is a 1954 film noir penned by Bernard Gordon and Richard Wormser. The story begins with 3 San Quentin escapees (Doc, Gat, and Ben) robbing a gas station. The seemingly simple theft goes wrong and winds up with Gat getting shot and a cop getting killed. This heinous crime sparks a police manhunt that includes the hard nosed Detective Sims. The plot switches its focus to Steve and his wife Ellen. Steve is an ex-con who now works as a plane mechanic, but he can’t seem to shake his former life. Gat forces his way into Steve’s home looking to hide out there while a Doctor patches him up, but Gat dies before that can happen. Problems only worsen for Steve and Ellen when Detective Sims believes Steve is involved with the escapees. As if all of that wasn’t bad enough, Ben and Doc break into Steve’s home and force Steve to be a getaway driver for a bank robbery while Ellen is held hostage. Can Steve and Ellen make it out alive? Can Steve clear his name?

Director Andre de Toth had a varied career helming everything from the original “House of Wax” to the incredibly underrated western gem “Day of the Outlaw.” With “Crime Wave,” the filmmaker delves into the film noir subgenre and proves to be a natural for it. The plot description makes it seem like a fairly cut and dry cop and criminal noir tale, but Andre de Toth and cinematographer Bert Glennon truly elevate the story with natural lightning and a raw realism that makes this L.A. set story feel more alive and less like a studio production. Andre de Toth has a keen eye for visually storytelling and he never wastes a second of time. The film starts with a bang and never lets up through its tight 74 minute runtime. 

Cast wise, the movie is chock full of talent such as Sterling Hayden, Gene Nelson, a young Charles Bronson, Ted de Corsia, Phyllis Kirk and Timothy Carey (as a deranged criminal). Hayden has the most interesting character here with Detective Sims. He’s a tough and suspicious cop who believes a crook is always a crook although maybe just maybe he’ll see the truth about the whole situation. It would have been nice to see Steve’s character explored a tad more as he is literally trapped by circumstances. Still, Gene Nelson does a credible job selling this former criminal gone straight’s ordeal. Charles Bronson (Ben) and Ted de Corsia (Doc) are perfectly cast in their roles while Phyllis Kirk is memorable as the tough devoted wife Ellen.

Video/Audio:

Presentation: 1.37:1 1080p. How does it look? Warner Archive’s release features yet another glorious restoration. The B&W classic has never looked better.

Audio Track: 2.0 DTS-HD MA. How does it sound? Aside from some expected hiss, this is a nice clean Mono track.

Extras:
* Theatrical trailer
* Commentary by Film Noir Foundation Founder Eddie Muller and author James Ellroy
* “Baby Buggy Bunny” cartoon
* A short film called “Gadgets Galore.”
* “The Making Of Crime Wave”- An archival featurette with interviews, stills, and discussions about the film and its production. 

August 3, 2026 - Posted by nicklyons1 | Blu-Ray review | 50's Movie, Crime Wave Blu-ray Review, Film Noir, Sterling Hayden, Warner Archive