Weird, short, Mickey Rooney is Eddie, who falls for Barbara (Diane Foster), who just happens to be hanging out with a gangster. So now he's caught up in that underworld that he had avoided until now. Rooney plays it straight in this one.. he's the every-guy, working stiff, while his co-workers crack jokes all around him. Co-stars Kevin McCarthy (had just been nominated for Salesman.) and Jerry Paris (neighbor on Dick Van Dyke show, and will go on to direct many many tv series). Eddie doesn't even say much until fifteen minutes in, when he is asked to report to Barbara's house to fix something he already fixed once. Then its off to the beach at malibu. ... and 48 minutes in, we finally get to the plot.. when Eddie finds out the chick wants him to help pull a heist. A different role than everything Rooney has done up until now. But it's all very serious. Plot is a bit thin, but it goes. He seems to have the mind of a very innocent 15 year old, being tricked by just everyone around him. It's barely okay. No biggie. I guess the M. Rooney fans will dig it. Directed by Richard Quine; had worked with Rooney on about ten films, as well as Rooney's own television show. Story by James Nablo.
Review of Drive a Crooked Road
