However evil a femme fatale is, we guys always pull for them. Sure, trust in them means instant ruination, but, oh my, they are babes! So when one of the most sultry French actresses plays one in a Film Noir film, we gasp at the path she seems to be on. Simone Signoret knows how to seduce and tantalize us. Alas, her plight in our film today suggests horrible doom. Still, is she too pretty to be slaughtered? Our feature today is brutal. The scenes are incredibly violent. The brutes in it are psycho and have their eyes on our pretty femme fatale. Let us look at 1950's "Gunman in the Streets," directed by Frank Tuttle, filmed and set in Paris.
Brutal criminal, Eddy Roback (Dane Clark) viciously escapes from a police van on the way to a court hearing. He'll murder some cops and enjoy doing it. On the run, Eddy (an American war deserter) knows he must leave Paris and France. Every cop in the country is prowling the streets looking for him. Police Inspector Dufresne (Fernand Gravey) is making it his life's mission to recapture Eddy fast. All of Eddy's cohorts are being rounded up leaving the creep with one alternative...Denise Vernon (Signoret). Denise has always been sweet on Eddy and her charm and seduction has sent the cops in other directions...or so she thinks. Now Eddy finds Denise and wants her to get him 300,000 Francs for safe passage for the two of them to get to Belgium. Denise fears and loves Eddy. She knows helping him means danger, and probably death for her.
Enter Frank Clinton (Robert Duke). This is Denise's present boyfriend and he is a handsome American reporter. Denise loves his wholesomeness, good looks, and contrast that he is to Eddy. Still, as much as she loves Frank, she is still bound to Eddy and all the danger and brutality he offers her. Dufresne is a good cop and is never far behind. Desperate for money and a hiding place, Eddy has Denise bring him to Max' (Michel Andre) photography studio. Max is an old friend of Eddy's and also a pervert and a deviant. Eddy knows Max ratted on him last year enabling his arrest. Now Eddy will hide out at his place, then kill him...that's the plan anyway. Denise strings Frank along but the reporter isn't an idiot and soon realizes the brutal Eddy is his competition. Frank will push the issue, forcing Denise to choose between him or Eddy. Eddy is confident Denise will choose him over Frank. With the cops closing in, Eddy deals with Max and using Frank and his car, races for the border with Denise.
Who will Denise choose? If she doesn't choose Eddy, will Eddy be a good loser? Does Eddy have a prayer of making it into Belgium? This is a violent and shocking one. Alas, we fear for Denise's safety and for her ability to make a good choice. For a fast-paced, and grueling Film Noir film from France, and for the allure of Simone Signoret, see "Gunman in the Streets."
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