Watch Stakeout on Dope Street

Stakeout on Dope Street is a crime drama from 1958 that follows three high school friends as they stumble upon a large stash of heroin and decide to sell it to make a quick buck. The movie is directed by Irvin Kershner and features a young Yale Wexler, Jonathan Haze, and Steven Marlo in the lead roles. The story takes place in a gritty, crime-ridden neighborhood in the heart of New York City. The three friends - Benny (Wexler), Artie (Haze), and Spence (Marlo) - are typical teenagers looking for thrills and adventure. They spend their nights cruising around in Benny's car, looking for something to do.

One night, they stumble upon a bag of heroin that has been discarded by some gangsters in a back alley. Benny, Artie, and Spence are amazed by the amount of drugs they have found and they quickly decide to sell it for a profit. They know that they are getting into something dangerous, but the lure of easy money is too strong to resist.

As they begin to sell the heroin, they attract the attention of some rival gangsters who want to take over their territory. Benny, Artie, and Spence are forced to defend themselves against these thugs, but they quickly realize that they are in over their heads. As the stakes get higher and higher, the three friends begin to crack under the pressure.

The movie is a gritty and realistic portrayal of life on the streets in the 1950s. The characters are complex and multi-dimensional, with each of them facing their own struggles and temptations. Benny is the level-headed leader who tries to keep his friends out of trouble, but he is also tempted by the promise of easy money. Artie is the wild card who is always looking for a thrill, while Spence is the quiet and introspective member of the group.

The movie also features some standout performances from its supporting cast. Morris Ankrum plays a detective who is trying to track down the source of the heroin, while Abby Dalton plays Benny's girlfriend who is worried about his involvement in the drug trade. The gangsters are played with a menacing intensity that adds to the tension of the movie.

One of the standout features of Stakeout on Dope Street is its use of location shooting. The movie was filmed on the streets of Los Angeles, giving it a gritty realism that is hard to replicate. The seedy back alleys and rundown apartment buildings add to the sense of danger and desperation that permeates the movie.

Overall, Stakeout on Dope Street is a tense and gripping crime drama that still holds up well today. It is a stark reminder of the dangers of getting involved in drugs and crime, and the consequences that can come from making a quick buck. It is a must-see for fans of classic crime movies and anyone interested in the gritty reality of life on the streets.

Stakeout on Dope Street is a 1958 crime movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 23 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.2.