Watch 5 Against The House

In 5 Against The House, four college friends - Al, Brick, Ronnie, and Roy - are on their way to a weekend trip in Reno, Nevada. While there, they visit a casino where the group observes a security van filled with money being transported. Al, who is an ex-serviceman and has had some experience with explosives, comes up with a plan to steal the money. The group agrees to the idea and includes the girlfriend of one of the friends, Kay, in their plan.

The group goes through with the plan and manages to get the money, but soon realizes they have made a dreadful mistake. The plan was not without consequences, and the group is met with several unforeseen challenges. The police are soon on their tail, and the group scatters to avoid capture. However, they soon realize that this isn't a solution, and they'll have to come together to resolve their present issues.

Underlying the action in 5 Against The House is a subplot concerning the relationship between Kay and Al. Kay is disillusioned with her life and is drawn to Al's no-nonsense approach to life. Al is a man struggling with adjusting to civilian life after leaving the army. Their relationship throws a few complications into the main plot, the theft plan, and that makes for a few subplots.

The ensemble cast of 5 Against The House does an excellent job. Guy Madison plays Al, the leader of the group, with a level of stoicism, and as the group slowly unravels, one can see the cracks begin to show. Kim Novak, in one of her earlier roles, plays Kay with a level of vulnerability that makes the audience root for her. Brian Keith, too, has a role to play as the police officer determined to solve the theft case.

The movie was ahead of its time in its treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) since Al is shown to be struggling with it. The movie blends together a heist plot with a study of the characters, their motivations, and their personal lives in a way that does not feel forced. The heist plot provides an exciting escape, and the characters are developed enough to make the audience care about them in a way that makes the personal subplots intriguing.

5 Against The House was released in 1955, and the movie's moral tone is aligned with that year's era. It isn't just a heist movie. It is a heist movie that comes with a message - crime doesn't pay. The movie's society requires that the thief be punished, and it happens in the end, even though their motives were pure.

5 Against The House was directed by Phil Karlson, an auteur who knew his way around genre movies. The movie was based on a novel of the same name by Jack Finney. The screenplay was written by Finney and William Bowers. The movie was shot in black and white, and the cinematography by Lester White is gritty and adds to the atmosphere.

In conclusion, 5 Against The House is an underrated movie that blends together multiple genres - heist, noir, character study - with a level of skill that's hard to find in contemporary movies. The movie can be found today, and it is highly recommended for fans of the aforementioned genres. It is a movie that will stay with you long after it's over.

5 Against The House is a 1955 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 24 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.8.