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Mickey One is a 1965 film starring Warren Beatty, directed by Arthur Penn, and produced by Harold Loeb. The film is a unique blend of film noir, avant-garde, and suspense thriller genres, and has been said to have had a huge influence on contemporary cinema. The story revolves around a stand-up comedian named "Mickey One" (Beatty), who has run afoul of some dangerous gangsters from the city of Chicago. Fearing for his life, he flees to Detroit, where he gradually begins to rebuild his life and career. However, he finds that his past has caught up with him, as he is relentlessly pursued by the people he tried to escape.

As the plot unfolds, Mickey One becomes increasingly paranoid and anxious, struggling to distinguish reality from his vivid imaginations. The film takes a surreal turn as scenes intercut between Mickey's dreamlike wanderings and the bleak, gritty reality of the world in which he lives.

The film is notable for its innovative cinematography, with scenes shot in evocative black and white, and for the way it expertly blends elements of experimental cinema with classic noir storytelling. Beatty delivers a haunting performance as the troubled protagonist, and the supporting cast includes Alexandra Stewart as Jenny, an enigmatic woman who may hold the key to Mickey's salvation, and Hurd Hatfield as the sinister gangster who leads the hunt to track him down.

Mickey One's legacy is significant, as it has been cited by filmmakers such as Martin Scorsese and Quentin Tarantino as a major influence on their own work. It is often praised for its innovative use of sound, shadow, and montage, as well as for its singular vision of America's urban decay and disillusionment in the post-WWII era.

The film is also noteworthy for its daring use of music, which includes an avant-garde jazz score by Eddie Sauter that feels both unsettling and poignant. The song "The Shadow of Your Smile" is featured prominently in the film, providing an emotional counterpoint to Mickey's inner turmoil.

Mickey One is a film that defies easy classification, but it remains one of the most fascinating and singular works of American cinema from the 1960s. It captivates with its idiosyncratic storytelling, moody atmosphere, and memorable performances, and its unconventional approach to the crime genre continues to inspire and challenge viewers to this day.

Mickey One is a 1965 crime movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 33 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.3.