Watch Criss Cross

The 1949 film Criss Cross follows the story of Steve Thompson (Burt Lancaster), an armored car driver, who is hopelessly in love with his ex-wife Anna (Yvonne De Carlo). Despite the fact that she has since moved on and is now seeing a notorious criminal named Slim Dundee (Dan Duryea), Steve cannot resist running into Anna every time he gets a chance, even if it puts him in danger.

The film opens with Steve returning to his old neighborhood in Los Angeles after being away for several years. He reconnects with his family, including his mother and his younger brother, and soon learns that Anna is now working as a dancer at a local nightclub. Though he is initially hesitant to rekindle their relationship, he ultimately cannot help himself and begins to spend time with her again.

As Steve begins to get closer to Anna, he becomes more and more disillusioned with his life. He hates his job driving the armored car, which he believes is a dead-end career, and feels as though he is in a rut. Anna, meanwhile, seems to be growing increasingly unhappy with her relationship with Slim, who is controlling and abusive.

Despite the fact that Anna is seeing Slim, Steve cannot help but be drawn back to her. He even goes so far as to help Slim with a heist that he is planning, hoping that it will bring him closer to Anna. In typical film noir fashion, though, things quickly go awry and Steve finds himself caught up in a dangerous web of lies and deceit.

One of the most notable aspects of Criss Cross is its use of flashbacks to tell the story. The film begins with a scene in which Steve is lying on the ground, bleeding from a gunshot wound, and then cuts back in time to show how he ended up in that situation. This technique is used several times throughout the film to reveal key pieces of information about the characters and their motivations.

Another standout element of Criss Cross is the cinematography. The film was directed by Robert Siodmak, who is known for his use of shadow and contrast in his films. This is on full display in Criss Cross, with many scenes taking place in dimly lit locations and featuring dramatic, high-contrast lighting. This style of filmmaking helps to create a sense of tension and unease throughout the movie.

The performances in Criss Cross are also noteworthy. Burt Lancaster delivers a strong performance as Steve, embodying the character's sense of desperation and longing. Yvonne De Carlo is equally impressive as Anna, portraying a complex mix of vulnerability and strength. Dan Duryea is perfectly cast as Slim, bringing just the right amount of menace and danger to the role.

Overall, Criss Cross is a compelling film noir that explores themes of obsession, betrayal, and doomed love. The movie's use of flashbacks, striking cinematography, and strong performances make it a memorable addition to the genre.

Criss Cross is a 1948 crime movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 28 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.4.