Raw Deal

"Bullets! Women! -- Can't Hold a Man Like That!"

1948 1h 19m EN

👍

6.7

SOLID

🔥

100%

CERTIFIED FRESH

⭐

7.2

IMDB

★6.7TMDB · 114🍅100%Rotten Tomatoes★7.2IMDB · 5,802

CrimeThriller

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

Joe Sullivan is itching to get out of prison. He's taken the rap for his accomplice Rick, a sadistic mobster who owes him $50,000 from the job they pulled. Rick sets up an escape for Joe, assuming that Joe will be killed while fleeing. But with the help of his love-struck girl Pat and his sympathetic legal caseworker Ann, Joe gets further than Rick intended...

“Bullets! Women! -- Can't Hold a Man Like That!”

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Cast

Dennis O'Keefe
Joe Sullivan
Claire Trevor
Pat Cameron
Marsha Hunt
Ann Martin
John Ireland
Fantail
Raymond Burr
Rick Coyle
Curt Conway
Spider
Chili Williams
Marcy
Richard Fraser
Fields

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Anthony Mann
Writers: Leopold Atlas, John C. Higgins
Languages: English
Countries: United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

RUNTIME

Did you know

Tight 79-minute runtime — shorter than most television pilots.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

78 years old — a genuine piece of film history.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Anthony Mann, shot by John Alton. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Paul Sawtell. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Alfred DeGaetano shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Dennis O'Keefe and Claire Trevor and Marsha Hunt carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "Bullets! Women! -- Can't Hold a Man Like That!".

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0040723 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Anthony Mann directs. John Alton behind the camera. Paul Sawtell scores. Alfred DeGaetano cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Tight 79-minute runtime — shorter than most television pilots.
278 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
3Directed by Anthony Mann, shot by John Alton. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
4Original score by Paul Sawtell. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
5Editor Alfred DeGaetano shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
6Dennis O'Keefe and Claire Trevor and Marsha Hunt carry the top of the cast.
7Marketing tagline: "Bullets! Women! -- Can't Hold a Man Like That!".
8IMDB entry: tt0040723 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
9Classified under 10 themes, including "prison", "gangster", "man between two women", "getaway car".

The technical file

Cinematography: John Alton
Original score: Paul Sawtell
Editing: Alfred DeGaetano
Makeup / hair: Ted Larsen
Runtime: 79 min · 1h 19m
Status: Released
Original language: EN
IMDB: Raw Deal (1948)
Rotten Tomatoes: 100% 🍅 Fresh
IMDB rating: 7.2/10 · 5,802 votes
MPAA: Approved

Also by

Anthony Mann

Trailers & featurettes

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Community reviews

What people are saying

CinemaSerf2023-04-15
★ 7/10
Anthony Mann packs quite a lot into eighty minutes in this quickly paced and engagingly intricate film noir. "Joe" (Dennis O'Keefe) faces festering in jail for years after helping out his duplicitous pal "Coyle" (Raymond Burr) who now owes him $50k. An escape plan almost goes awry and reveals to "Joe" and feisty girlfriend "Pat" (Claire Trevor) that his friend is not exactly trustworthy. What now ensues drags in poor "Ann" (Marsha Hunt) as "Joe" tries to exact his revenge, get his cash, and escape to Mexico - all whilst being pursued by hitman "Fantail" (an adequate John Ireland). What's a little unique about this, is that the two women have stronger - and more independent - storylines. They both fall for "Joe", and are both aware that the other has an interest, but these are no shrinking violets and though of completely differing characters, there is plenty of attitude on display to complement the more traditional (and predictable) elements of the chase. Burr was never very good at menacing, and here is no different but he only features sparingly as we gradually discover whether or not "Joe" is really a brute. It's not too wordy, there is enough action and counter-plotting to keep it interesting and I'd say - if you like the genre - is at the better end of the spectrum and well worth a watch.

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