Many soldiers arrived home with horrific memories. Then again, one soldier, the bloke in today's film, arrived home with no memories. Zippo! Amnesia. Perhaps a good thing...or not. Amnesia is a terrific plot device that bears no resemblance to today's reality unless you're a Clinton being asked about shady deals or Epstein Island. A plot device saved for soap operas, screwball comedies, and the "Resident Evil" franchise, today's film may be the best use of it in movie history. Let us look at the Film Noir goodie, 1949's "The Crooked Way," directed by Robert Florey.
Eddie (John Payne) won the Silver Star in World War 2 and was shipped home after having a piece of shrapnel embedded in his brain. All his memories are gone and they won't come back. All he knows is that he is from L.A.. That's it! Physically he is great, and now he leaves the hospital, after five years, and heads to LA. Ten seconds off the bus and everyone recognizes him. He doesn't recognize them. Of note, a grizzled old cop, Lt. Williams (Rhys Williams) tells him to get put of town. Next up, the sultry night club singer Nina (Ellen Drew). She knew him...but Eddie has no memory of her...darn, cause she is a dish. Nina calls Vince (Sonny Tufts). Vince knew Eddie, and this is not good. Vince runs the racket in LA and owns gambling establishments. Nina works for Vince at one of his clubs. Vince pays Eddie a painful visit and tells him to get out of LA.
Eddie's curiosity is peaked. Any clue or indication he gets tells him that he himself was a bad guy. The new Eddie isn't bad, but no one in LA forgives. Seems Eddie and Vince were tight until Eddie ratted Vince out to the cops. Now Vince wants bloody revenge. Eddie begins getting indications that back in the day, Nina and him were...close, shall we say. Eddie decides to stay in LA and, figure out where he stands with Nina. Did I mention she is quite a dish? He also knows Vince will stops at nothing to kill him and eventually Nina. Gunfights result, as do murders, and now everyone (cops and bad guys) are looking for Eddie.
Will the new Eddie be able to convince LA he is no longer the thug he used to be? Will Vince get over the fact that Eddie's testimony put him away for a few years? Exactly how close were Nina and Eddie and will they ever be that close again? This is a good one. Everyone in this film is a bad guy except one of the bad guys desperately wants to be good. See "The Crooked Way," and realize people do change, though it may take being shot in the head.
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