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Drive a Crooked Road
Drive a Crooked Road
	Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Richard Quine
Written by	Richard Quine; (adaptation)
Screenplay by	Blake Edwards
Story by	James Benson Nablo
Produced by	Jonie Taps
Starring	Mickey Rooney; Dianne Foster
Cinematography	Charles Lawton Jr.
Edited by	Jerome Thoms
Color process	Black and white
Production; company	Columbia Pictures
Distributed by	Columbia Pictures
Release date	March 10, 1954 (United States);
Running time	83 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

Drive a Crooked Road is a 1954 American crime film noir directed by Richard Quine and starring Mickey Rooney and Dianne Foster.^[1] The drama's screenplay was adapted by Blake Edwards and Richard Quine from "The Wheel Man", a story by Canadian James Benson Nablo.

Plot

Mechanic and race car driver Eddie Shannon is chosen by two bank robbers to help them with a heist. The heist requires someone with his ability to "soup up" engines and drive at high speeds over treacherous roads, to avoid capture after they pull the job. To bait the driver into the dangerous scheme, one of the robbers uses his girlfriend, Barbara Mathews, to help persuade Eddie to assist with the crime—though his share of the heist would also make it possible for him to achieve his dream of racing competitively in Europe, the money alone wouldn't be sufficient inducement. Barbara increasingly feels ashamed of leading Eddie on, and develops some feelings for him. This leads to his discovery of the way he's been used, triggering a deadly confrontation at the end.

Cast

Mickey Rooney as Eddie Shannon
Dianne Foster as Barbara Mathews
Kevin McCarthy as Steve Norris
Jack Kelly as Harold Baker
Harry Landers as Ralph
Jerry Paris as Phil
Paul Picerni as Carl
Dick Crockett as Don

Critical reception

TV Guide called the film "A crisply done film noir with Rooney taken in by the universal emotional state that was at the root of many noir heroes' problems, loneliness."^[2]

The Philadelphia Inquirer was complimentary: "Apart from being a very fair melodrama ... [the film] ... serves as a reminder that, given the right role and good direction, Mickey Rooney is a talented young actor ... The film, as well as Rooney, stands up all the way. So do all the others in Columbia's small, handpicked cast ... first honors go uncontested to the 32-year-old star for a fine, affecting, and unaffected performance."^[3]

References

^ Drive a Crooked Road at IMDb.
^ TV Guide. Film review. Last accessed: November 19, 2009.
^ Martin, Mildred. "'Drive a Crooked Road' Stars Rooney at Stanton." Philadelphia Inquirer, 19 June 1954.