99 River Street

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99 River Street

1953

1h 23m

Crime

Drama

Action

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100%

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8 Reviews

81%

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250+ Ratings

Cab driver and ex-boxer Ernie (John Payne) discovers his wife Pauline (Peggie Castle) has been cheating on him. Ernie is approached by actress friend Linda (Evelyn Keyes), who says that she needs his help because she killed a man during an audition. After rushing to the theater, Ernie discovers that Linda's desperate tale was the audition. As if that humiliation isn't enough, Ernie is then framed for Pauline's murder by her lover, jewel thief Victor Rawlins (Brad Dexter).

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Derek Smith

Slant Magazine

Aug 11, 2024

Phil Karlson’s 99 River Street is, along with Kansas City Confidential, an exemplar of the director’s brutal, cynical, economical approach to noir.

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Manny Farber

The Nation

Nov 24, 2020

The plot is routine, but the direction, which seems to dislike anything that smacks of the phrase "don't get excited,'' makes the picture worth seeing.

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Nicholas Bell

IONCINEMA.com

Oct 8, 2020

3/5

A romantic-tinged noir focusing on unabashed wash-outs and sell-outs, 99 River Street is a lot less hopeless than it initially seems on the surface, and is an enjoyable, minor genre gem.

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Sean Axmaker

Stream on Demand

Jan 5, 2018

99 River Street, arguably Karlson's greatest film and certainly his most beautifully brutal, is a film driven by the fury of a man who is tired of being life's punching bag.

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Jun 25, 2016

3/4

[UPDATED 2024 BLU-RAY REVIEW] Has any other cinematic genre offered as many buried treasures as film noir? Here's another unpolished gem to add to the stack.

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Jeffrey M. Anderson

Combustible Celluloid

Jul 16, 2010

Phil Karlson directed series of very tough, violent film noirs, but few of them are as tough and violent as the superb 99 River Street.

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Rory M

@Tron1292 Aug 3, 2026

It's good, real good. I'm surprised I haven't seen it before, or maybe I forgot. I now want to watch all Paynes movies. Well watched.

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acsdoug D

@acsdoug Jul 24, 2024

If you're not a fan of the noir genre you probably won't like this one. If you are you probably will, despite Evelyn Keyes' overacting.

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Blobbo X

@Blobbo Nov 9, 2023

Ending not so noir. That ok, think Blobbo!

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Bill B

@RT01438538 Aug 1, 2023

Over rated. Way too many dopey situations to be a gripping noir affair. Dexter plays a convincing villain, though, and most of the film I was waiting for someone to wipe the smirk off his face.

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Aldo G

@RT54480587 May 19, 2023

John Payne delivers a knockout performance as a former prize fighter whose cheating wife gets involved with a jewel thief played by Brad Dexter. Evelyn Keyes has the unenviable task of trying to help Payne's character out of a frame up. The rest of the supporting cast of crime film veterans answer the bell and director Phil Karlson almost goes the distance but stumbles in the last five minutes.

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Aug 4, 2022

The greatest 01 hour: and 23 minutes ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Phil Karlson

Director

John Payne

Ernie Driscoll

Evelyn Keyes

Linda James

Brad Dexter

Victor Rawlins

Frank Faylen

Stan Hogan

Peggie Castle

Pauline Driscoll

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Synopsis

Cab driver and ex-boxer Ernie (John Payne) discovers his wife Pauline (Peggie Castle) has been cheating on him. Ernie is approached by actress friend Linda (Evelyn Keyes), who says that she needs his help because she killed a man during an audition. After rushing to the theater, Ernie discovers that Linda's desperate tale was the audition. As if that humiliation isn't enough, Ernie is then framed for Pauline's murder by her lover, jewel thief Victor Rawlins (Brad Dexter).

Director: Phil Karlson
Producer: Edward Small
Screenwriter: Robert Smith, George Zuckerman
Distributor: United Artists
Production Co: United Artists
Genre: Crime, Drama, Action
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 1, 1953, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): May 17, 2017
Runtime: 1h 23m
Sound Mix: Mono

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