Vintage cars, big fedoras, and black n white film stock do not a Noir make. Generic tale of Feds trying to take down a narcotics racket offers nothing that Noir fans haven't seen in dozens of similar, and better, films. Helmed by Dan Duryea, rather subdued in this one, and Howard Duff, sharp as a bar of soap. One the plus side, this predicts the later Nafta trade era, with locations in Canada, the States and Mexico. Also, a great deal of this is set at a Tucson dude ranch, rather than rain soaked alleys. A young Shelley Winters as good time girl trying to ease away from the game seems the most genuine character in film. Tony Curtis memorable as mute torpedo.
Review of Johnny Stool Pigeon
