Plunder Road is an object lesson in what can be done with a low-budget and a stripped-down script. The opening moments, at night under a hard rain, are disorienting, swift, and all but silent. A gang of highwaymen has plotted to rob a train of its gold-bullion cargo. Successful, its members split off onto three separate routes to what they hope will be prosperous freedom. The movie follows them dispassionately as they individually reckon with their fates. This is a marvel of action and economy -- one of the most enjoyable offerings from late in the cycle of film noir.
33 Reviews
The machine rages against us
goblinhairedguy9 March 2004
Being primarily a visual medium, one of the things film does best is illustrate the mechanics of complex items. I refer not only to the machinations of the caper plot so well achieved here, but also to big machines themselves -- trains, trucks, assembly lines. Many a great director has used the relentless workings of machines as a metaphor for inescapable fate -- think especially of Fritz Lang and the openings of Human Desire and Clash by Night.
The stars of Plunder Road are the machines themselves -- the overburdened trucks inching their way to freedom, the massive crane and huffing sabotaged train in the rain-pelted robbery scene, the bubbling cauldron at the foundry contributing to the ingenious escape plan, etc. The human characters are sketched briefly, with impressionistic strokes, but it's the mute mechanical accomplices that drive the plot and stick in the mind. This is best illustrated by the cleverly-inserted visit of a smog inspector, and again in the cruelly ironic downfall of the protagonists, who are at the mercy of their guileless vehicles.
The stars of Plunder Road are the machines themselves -- the overburdened trucks inching their way to freedom, the massive crane and huffing sabotaged train in the rain-pelted robbery scene, the bubbling cauldron at the foundry contributing to the ingenious escape plan, etc. The human characters are sketched briefly, with impressionistic strokes, but it's the mute mechanical accomplices that drive the plot and stick in the mind. This is best illustrated by the cleverly-inserted visit of a smog inspector, and again in the cruelly ironic downfall of the protagonists, who are at the mercy of their guileless vehicles.
Good 50s crime thriller
BruceCorneil22 August 2003
Once again , I'm surprised by the lack of interest in such a good film . A gang of gold robbers melt down a haul of the precious metal to make some very pricey bumpers for their Cadillac . The climax is sensational . An interesting idea (particularly the ending)- well written , well directed and well played by all concerned . Keeps you glued to the screen from start to finish . If you're looking for a good 50s crime thriller this is it .
Tightly Relentless
dougdoepke14 May 2012
That 10-minute opening is a real grabber. I'm still wondering whether the driving rain was real or not. If so, it must have made filming difficult as heck. The problem with an opening like this is once you've hit the highlight how do you fill the remainder, which could easily pale in comparison.
Still, it's no problem for this little gem. The remaining time amounts to a real nail-biter in getting away with the gold now that the gang has stolen it. Driving big rigs cross-country is cat-and-mouse with the cops the whole way, as details of the plan unfold, and we get acquainted with the gang members.
Raymond's effective as the disciplined mastermind. I think I counted one smile from him the whole time. Then there's the familiar mug of professional loser Cook Jr. who gets a regular guy role for once. And, of course, there's the underrated Wayne Morris as the dependable Commando, just two years away from an untimely passing.
My one gripe is with the tip-offs to the cops. They're flimsy and contrived, especially the police radio in Roly's (Repp) case. Too bad, because the rest of a tight script manages a surprisingly high degree of believability, thanks to screenwriter Steven Ritch who doubles here as race car guy Frankie.
I expect director Cornfield was hoping for a break-through film on the order of the previous year's The Killing (1956), which thrust Stanley Kubrick into the front rank. He doesn't get it, but he does get one heckuva good little heist film, and so do we. And, oh yes, I could have told the gang to stay off the LA freeways at rush hour.
Still, it's no problem for this little gem. The remaining time amounts to a real nail-biter in getting away with the gold now that the gang has stolen it. Driving big rigs cross-country is cat-and-mouse with the cops the whole way, as details of the plan unfold, and we get acquainted with the gang members.
Raymond's effective as the disciplined mastermind. I think I counted one smile from him the whole time. Then there's the familiar mug of professional loser Cook Jr. who gets a regular guy role for once. And, of course, there's the underrated Wayne Morris as the dependable Commando, just two years away from an untimely passing.
My one gripe is with the tip-offs to the cops. They're flimsy and contrived, especially the police radio in Roly's (Repp) case. Too bad, because the rest of a tight script manages a surprisingly high degree of believability, thanks to screenwriter Steven Ritch who doubles here as race car guy Frankie.
I expect director Cornfield was hoping for a break-through film on the order of the previous year's The Killing (1956), which thrust Stanley Kubrick into the front rank. He doesn't get it, but he does get one heckuva good little heist film, and so do we. And, oh yes, I could have told the gang to stay off the LA freeways at rush hour.
In the most daring train robbery of all time...
hitchcockthelegend14 September 2013
Plunder Road is directed by Hubert Cornfield and written by Steven Ritch and Jack Charney. It stars Gene Raymond, Jeanne Cooper, Wayne Morris, Elisha Cook Jr. and Stafford Repp. Music is by Irving Gertz and cinematography by Ernest Haller.
After pulling off a daring train hold-up, a gang of thieves split up and hit the roads to meet up in Los Angeles in readiness to share their gold bullion spoils...
A poverty row heist noir late in the classic cycle, Plunder Road gets in and does the job without fuss and filler and with no little style. Running at just 72 minutes in length, the first portion of film is devoted to the intricate robbery that is set at night in the sheeting rain (15 minutes worth) and with barely a word spoken. It's meticulous planning, and thus this appears to be one highly tuned and professional gang of thieves. The rest of the film follows the gang, now travelling in three different vehicles, heading straight to noirville as their inadequacies and paranoia's come to the fore and noir's old faithful friend the vagaries of fate shows it's smirking face.
Cornfield and Haller (Mildred Pierce/The Verdict) atmospherically photograph the picture, using the Scope format to emphasise the impending implosion of the characters' plans as they move through the various locales and situations. It's solidly performed by the cast, with old noir hand Cook Junior doing what he does best, and Cornfield manages to eek out much suspense from what essentially is a simple story. The ending is all a bit too quick, some contrivances are to be taken with a pinch of salt, while Gertz's score is very intrusive for the whole 15 minutes heist sequence. However, this is a good and enjoyable film noir experience, even though it doesn't quite push towards the upper echelons of other heist movies in the film noir universe. 7/10
After pulling off a daring train hold-up, a gang of thieves split up and hit the roads to meet up in Los Angeles in readiness to share their gold bullion spoils...
A poverty row heist noir late in the classic cycle, Plunder Road gets in and does the job without fuss and filler and with no little style. Running at just 72 minutes in length, the first portion of film is devoted to the intricate robbery that is set at night in the sheeting rain (15 minutes worth) and with barely a word spoken. It's meticulous planning, and thus this appears to be one highly tuned and professional gang of thieves. The rest of the film follows the gang, now travelling in three different vehicles, heading straight to noirville as their inadequacies and paranoia's come to the fore and noir's old faithful friend the vagaries of fate shows it's smirking face.
Cornfield and Haller (Mildred Pierce/The Verdict) atmospherically photograph the picture, using the Scope format to emphasise the impending implosion of the characters' plans as they move through the various locales and situations. It's solidly performed by the cast, with old noir hand Cook Junior doing what he does best, and Cornfield manages to eek out much suspense from what essentially is a simple story. The ending is all a bit too quick, some contrivances are to be taken with a pinch of salt, while Gertz's score is very intrusive for the whole 15 minutes heist sequence. However, this is a good and enjoyable film noir experience, even though it doesn't quite push towards the upper echelons of other heist movies in the film noir universe. 7/10
A competently made and engaging low budget caper flick.
planktonrules31 December 2015
"Plunder Road" is a low budget crime film with a few familiar faces...and many unfamiliar ones. The leading men you might not be too familiar to you, as the once pretty Gene Raymond and Wayne MOrris are a bit older and more rugged in this film--and I actually think this makes them more believable and I liked their work late in their career. Another one of the crooks is Elisha Cook--a very familiar character actor.
The story is pretty familiar because caper movies were VERY popular during that era. A group of masked robbers bump off a shipment of gold on a train and their planning is meticulous. However, true to most caper films, things start to fall apart during the getaway. The gang is split into teams and one by one, things start to happen to the teams.
Overall, a well directed and interesting cheap film noir flick-- worth seeing if you like the genre and quite engaging. Not among the best of its type (such as "Asphalt Jungle", "The Killing", "Rififi" or "Grand Slam")....but still quite nice.
The story is pretty familiar because caper movies were VERY popular during that era. A group of masked robbers bump off a shipment of gold on a train and their planning is meticulous. However, true to most caper films, things start to fall apart during the getaway. The gang is split into teams and one by one, things start to happen to the teams.
Overall, a well directed and interesting cheap film noir flick-- worth seeing if you like the genre and quite engaging. Not among the best of its type (such as "Asphalt Jungle", "The Killing", "Rififi" or "Grand Slam")....but still quite nice.
A pure and simple heist movie
Paularoc7 April 2013
Warning: Spoilers
Five men rob a train of ten million dollars in gold bullion and then off load the bullion into three trucks, one of which is a tanker. The mechanics of the robbery and the subsequent hiding of the bullion on the trucks is shown in great detail and is interesting because of the weight of the gold. And because of the weight and amount of the gold, the police know it has to be transported by truck and have roadblocks and weighing stations set up to examine trucks. We do learn a little bit about each of the characters but the focus, quite rightly, is on the heist and subsequent capture of the thieves and this is done very well indeed with occasionally riveting camera work. The Jeanne Cooper character is an interesting one for the time. Although a girlfriend of Raymond's character, she is not conniving, stupid, or timid but actually contributes in carrying out the plan (albeit somewhat reluctantly). The culprits are done in by either stupidity or implausible coincidence. Nonetheless, it is a fast moving and intriguing caper film well worth a watch.
All plans are not carried out well.
michaelRokeefe20 June 2015
Warning: Spoilers
Strong B-Film Noir directed by Hubert Cornfield. Steven Rich's story and screenplay stars Gene Raymond as Eddie Harris, a professional thief leading a group of amateurs in a well thought out plan of robbing a train bound for the San Fransico mint. About $10 million in gold bullion is split into three trucks and begin a treacherous trek to Los Angeles. Each piece of the successful heist is traveling along separate routes; but two are intercepted. Eddie manages to reach the destination, but he must outmaneuver the outrageous L.A. traffic to escape capture.
A 72 minute action, crime flick with a good share of tension. Other players: Jeanne Cooper, Elisha Cook Jr., Wayne Morris, Stafford Repp, Naura Hayden and the writer, Rich.
A 72 minute action, crime flick with a good share of tension. Other players: Jeanne Cooper, Elisha Cook Jr., Wayne Morris, Stafford Repp, Naura Hayden and the writer, Rich.
Plunder Road
glennstenb18 October 2018
Certainly a lot of atmosphere from the 1950s on display here, and we are on the road plenty. One is definitely drawn into the program, and it is difficult not to be interested in the details of all that is passing by before our eyes on the screen. The expressive faces, which are so strongly captured by the camera, may seem uncomfortably close at times, especially since they aren't faces of what we may call appealing folks. Keep in mind that with no counter-balance from hero figures, it may be easy to fall into rooting for some of these bad guys. A grim, stark, and memorable viewing experience.
An Odd-But-Interesting Film Noir
ccthemovieman-12 December 2005
This is another of those "Poverty Row" film noirs, a crime movie made on a low budget but yet decently acted and certainly entertaining.
Gene Raymond and Elisha Cook Jr. are known actors to classic film buffs but the rest of the cast may not be too familiar. There is no one star in this film anyway but all give good performances, particularly Raymond, the most interesting member of the gang.
The weak link of the film, at least to me, was the ending...but I give it points for originality. Overall, the story was a simple one, but oddly told. I say that because the important things that happened in the film (the arrests of the criminals, for one thing) would be glossed over quickly while minor things would be detailed longer than necessary. Despite that, the film was interesting thanks to good dialog, realism on the part of the characters and the short running time (73 minutes). Hope to see it on DVD some day.
Gene Raymond and Elisha Cook Jr. are known actors to classic film buffs but the rest of the cast may not be too familiar. There is no one star in this film anyway but all give good performances, particularly Raymond, the most interesting member of the gang.
The weak link of the film, at least to me, was the ending...but I give it points for originality. Overall, the story was a simple one, but oddly told. I say that because the important things that happened in the film (the arrests of the criminals, for one thing) would be glossed over quickly while minor things would be detailed longer than necessary. Despite that, the film was interesting thanks to good dialog, realism on the part of the characters and the short running time (73 minutes). Hope to see it on DVD some day.
a brilliant plan
blanche-29 September 2021
Plunder Road was an okay film starring Gene Raymond, Wayne Morris, Jeanne Cooper, Elisha Cook Jr., and Stafford Repp.
Raymond heads up a group of people who work his meticulous plan to rob a train of something like $10 million in gold boullion. It's divided into three trucks - one allegedly carrying chemicals, and two (I think) carrying furniture. They are timed as to when each truck takes off and which way they travel.
This is the story of the three trucks and their various passengers as they head toward a Los Angeles foundry, where Raymond's wife (Cooper) will meet them and help. Their plan is truly ingeneous. And you know what they say about the best laid plans.
I will be honest - I watched this thing for half an hour with absolutely no idea what they were doing. I'm glad other people were fascinated by their method of stealing, etc. - I swear I couldn't tell. I don't know if it's the film or night blindness, but scenes in the dark sometimes elude me.
Raymond, a star in the 1930s, worked consistently until he died, but naturally moved into character roles and a lot of television. Wayne Morris was a cute, light leading man in the '40s - I didn't recognize him until halfway through the film. He, too, moved into character roles and television.
I have seen better execution of some parts of this film, though I'm sure the team's ideas at the time seemed innovative. I knew everything that was going to happen at the end before it did. I just wasn't that impressed.
Raymond heads up a group of people who work his meticulous plan to rob a train of something like $10 million in gold boullion. It's divided into three trucks - one allegedly carrying chemicals, and two (I think) carrying furniture. They are timed as to when each truck takes off and which way they travel.
This is the story of the three trucks and their various passengers as they head toward a Los Angeles foundry, where Raymond's wife (Cooper) will meet them and help. Their plan is truly ingeneous. And you know what they say about the best laid plans.
I will be honest - I watched this thing for half an hour with absolutely no idea what they were doing. I'm glad other people were fascinated by their method of stealing, etc. - I swear I couldn't tell. I don't know if it's the film or night blindness, but scenes in the dark sometimes elude me.
Raymond, a star in the 1930s, worked consistently until he died, but naturally moved into character roles and a lot of television. Wayne Morris was a cute, light leading man in the '40s - I didn't recognize him until halfway through the film. He, too, moved into character roles and television.
I have seen better execution of some parts of this film, though I'm sure the team's ideas at the time seemed innovative. I knew everything that was going to happen at the end before it did. I just wasn't that impressed.
Blunder Road (A Good Heist Caper)
zardoz-1312 July 2015
Warning: Spoilers
Director Hubert Cornfield's heist caper "Plunder Road" was made when Hollywood prohibited criminals from getting away with their criminal endeavors. Five men, Eddie Harris (Gene Raymond of "Red Dust"), Commando Munson (Wayne Morris of "Paths of Glory"), Skeets Jonas (Elisha Cook Jr., of "The Maltese Falcon"), Roly Adams (Stafford Repp of ABC-TV's "Batman") and Frankie Chardo (Steven Ritch of "Seminole Uprising"), stage a daring night time robbery of a train transporting gold bullion to San Francisco. The first ten minutes or so concern the actual hold-up itself with the hoodlums gassing the guards and slugging the train engineer unconscious.
The next forty-five minutes depicts the road trip that the robbers take in three separate vehicles. Eddie and Frankie cruise along in a tanker truck. Commando and Skeets drive a rental truck with coffee used to conceal their load of the bullion, while Roly drives a truck carrying furniture. Cornfield has pared this crime caper down to its absolute essentials. Roly is caught first when he doesn't make it through a roadblock because he leaves his police band radio turned on. He makes a futile effort to get away, but the police shoot him in the back. Eddie and Frankie roll up not long afterward and spot the authorities taking Roly's body away in an ambulance. Meanwhile, Commando and Skeets pull up to fill up at a gas station. Commando gets into a conversation with the old-timer who is filling up the truck. The old-timer inquires about his oil. When Commando raises the hood, his automatic pistol falls out and he has to murder the attendant. Finally, Eddie and Frankie make it to Los Angeles without incident and smelt their gold bullion down at a warehouse. Pollution officials interrupt Eddie and company and write them a citation. By this time, Eddie's girlfriend Fran Werner (Jeanne Cooper of "The Intruder") begs him to call things off, but Eddie complains that they have gone through too much to back out now. Our protagonists melt the gold down into hubcaps and other body parts for a Cadillac and cruise onto the freeway when disaster strikes. As Frankie is tooling along the freeway, they pass an accident, and a woman driver behind them spends too much time rubbernecking at a crashed car and rear-ends our protagonists. Naturally, the uniformed cops appear to help untangle the bumpers when they notice that Eddie's car has a gold bumper.
There isn't much room for characterization in this taut drama. Similarly, there isn't much sentiment either. Cornfield generates suspense and tension from the moment that the thieves pack up the bullion and head cross-country to Los Angeles. Naturally, scenarist Steven Ritch, working from a story by Jack Charney and he, has to dream up ways for the thieves to blunder. If only Roly had kept his police radio turned off. If only Commando has kept a close watch on his automatic pistol! Why did Eddie have to melt the gold into a rear bumper? Couldn't he have melted the bullion into other car parts? Remember, back in the 1950s, crime didn't pay, so our protagonists are simply living on borrowed time. Nevertheless, "Plunder Road" is qualifies as a suspenseful, white-knuckled exercise in crime.
The next forty-five minutes depicts the road trip that the robbers take in three separate vehicles. Eddie and Frankie cruise along in a tanker truck. Commando and Skeets drive a rental truck with coffee used to conceal their load of the bullion, while Roly drives a truck carrying furniture. Cornfield has pared this crime caper down to its absolute essentials. Roly is caught first when he doesn't make it through a roadblock because he leaves his police band radio turned on. He makes a futile effort to get away, but the police shoot him in the back. Eddie and Frankie roll up not long afterward and spot the authorities taking Roly's body away in an ambulance. Meanwhile, Commando and Skeets pull up to fill up at a gas station. Commando gets into a conversation with the old-timer who is filling up the truck. The old-timer inquires about his oil. When Commando raises the hood, his automatic pistol falls out and he has to murder the attendant. Finally, Eddie and Frankie make it to Los Angeles without incident and smelt their gold bullion down at a warehouse. Pollution officials interrupt Eddie and company and write them a citation. By this time, Eddie's girlfriend Fran Werner (Jeanne Cooper of "The Intruder") begs him to call things off, but Eddie complains that they have gone through too much to back out now. Our protagonists melt the gold down into hubcaps and other body parts for a Cadillac and cruise onto the freeway when disaster strikes. As Frankie is tooling along the freeway, they pass an accident, and a woman driver behind them spends too much time rubbernecking at a crashed car and rear-ends our protagonists. Naturally, the uniformed cops appear to help untangle the bumpers when they notice that Eddie's car has a gold bumper.
There isn't much room for characterization in this taut drama. Similarly, there isn't much sentiment either. Cornfield generates suspense and tension from the moment that the thieves pack up the bullion and head cross-country to Los Angeles. Naturally, scenarist Steven Ritch, working from a story by Jack Charney and he, has to dream up ways for the thieves to blunder. If only Roly had kept his police radio turned off. If only Commando has kept a close watch on his automatic pistol! Why did Eddie have to melt the gold into a rear bumper? Couldn't he have melted the bullion into other car parts? Remember, back in the 1950s, crime didn't pay, so our protagonists are simply living on borrowed time. Nevertheless, "Plunder Road" is qualifies as a suspenseful, white-knuckled exercise in crime.
Tense,Exciting Little Low Budget Heist Film!
bsmith555210 July 2017
Warning: Spoilers
"Plunder Road" is about a train heist of $10 million in gold bullion. In a well planned robbery, led by Eddie Harris (Gene Raymond) along with Frankie Chardo (Steven Rich), Munson (Wayne Morris), Skeets (Elisha Cook Jr.) and Roly Adams (Stafford Repp), the gang pulls off "the biggest robbery in U.S. history" in the teeming rain, using a large van and a small crane truck to obtain and transport the loot.
The gang hides the trucks used in the robbery and loads the gold onto three separate trucks carrying furniture, coffee and a chemical liquid. They plan to go to Los Angeles leaving at staggered times. Roly is the first to leave followed by Munson and Skeets and finally Eddie and Frankie.
Roly is stopped by the police and is shot trying to escape. Munson and Skeets stop for gas where Muson murders the gas station attendant who recognized them as part of the heist team. They are later arrested at a truck weigh scales station when the excess weight of their vehicle is discovered.
Eddie and Frankie make it through various roadblocks to L.A. where Eddie's girl friend Fran Werner (Jeanne Cooper) is waiting. They melt down the gold and...............................................
There's a couple of holes in the story (written by Rich) likely due to budget considerations. For example there is no information provided as to how Eddie Harris knew about the shipment or how he formed his gang and planned the robbery in the intricate detail necessary. The explosive they are carrying is not identified but is assumed to be nitro-glycerin. Also, since the shipment was obviously headed to or from Fort Knox, where was the military presence?
Gene Raymond had been a major star in the 30s appearing opposite many of the leading ladies of the day. He was married to Jeannette MacDonald for 28 years and had appeared in a limited number of films since then. Wayne Morris was a highly decorated WWII hero whose career had declined. He made a comeback in 1957 with his role in "Paths of Glory" but died in 1959 before he could get his career going again. Stafford Repp is best remembered for his role as the Police Chief in the "Batman" TV series. Elisha Cook appeared in dozens of similar roles as the tough little guy such as his Wilmer in "The Maltese Falcon"
The gang hides the trucks used in the robbery and loads the gold onto three separate trucks carrying furniture, coffee and a chemical liquid. They plan to go to Los Angeles leaving at staggered times. Roly is the first to leave followed by Munson and Skeets and finally Eddie and Frankie.
Roly is stopped by the police and is shot trying to escape. Munson and Skeets stop for gas where Muson murders the gas station attendant who recognized them as part of the heist team. They are later arrested at a truck weigh scales station when the excess weight of their vehicle is discovered.
Eddie and Frankie make it through various roadblocks to L.A. where Eddie's girl friend Fran Werner (Jeanne Cooper) is waiting. They melt down the gold and...............................................
There's a couple of holes in the story (written by Rich) likely due to budget considerations. For example there is no information provided as to how Eddie Harris knew about the shipment or how he formed his gang and planned the robbery in the intricate detail necessary. The explosive they are carrying is not identified but is assumed to be nitro-glycerin. Also, since the shipment was obviously headed to or from Fort Knox, where was the military presence?
Gene Raymond had been a major star in the 30s appearing opposite many of the leading ladies of the day. He was married to Jeannette MacDonald for 28 years and had appeared in a limited number of films since then. Wayne Morris was a highly decorated WWII hero whose career had declined. He made a comeback in 1957 with his role in "Paths of Glory" but died in 1959 before he could get his career going again. Stafford Repp is best remembered for his role as the Police Chief in the "Batman" TV series. Elisha Cook appeared in dozens of similar roles as the tough little guy such as his Wilmer in "The Maltese Falcon"
Nothing memorable.
bombersflyup2 November 2019
Warning: Spoilers
Plunder Road starts off dull, picks up a bit on the road, but lacks overall in content and substance.
Eddie being the only character with any real presence about him. They simply could of had someone driving on ahead to warn of any danger. The first one who does a runner for no reason, silly.
Eddie being the only character with any real presence about him. They simply could of had someone driving on ahead to warn of any danger. The first one who does a runner for no reason, silly.
The hell of a crime film
searchanddestroy-110 February 2023
The most prestigious B crime flick about heists, besides GUNS GIRLS AND GANGSTERS, both of the same period, late fifties, both short, sharp as a knife, with no useless shot, rough, tough gangsters stories, gritty, dark, as I LOVE, for which I would walk through a mine field. What I would not do for today's OCEAN'S ELEVEN like crap, bullsh....material. I regularely watch those films every two or three years, I don't get tired of it. Wayne Morris and Gene Raymond have never been better for my own taste. And Elisha Cook Jr - the ancestor for me of Geoffrey Lewis, I don't know why, - is also terrific, despite a supporting character. No one can get tired of it.
Cut to the Chase
rhoda-93 January 2020
Whoever had the idea for this movie must have decided that the exciting part of heist movies is the robbery and the chase, so why not limit the movie to that. It doesn't really work, though, because one watches the opening train robbery without emotion, and it is hard to feel interested in the fate of the men, who escape in three trucks, since we know nothing about them--except for Elisha Cook (no longer Jr.) who talks about his plans for escaping with his son to Rio. Even so, he doesn't generate enough sympathy to make us care about these thieves who risk badly wounding or killing the train guards. Gene Raymond turns out to have a woman waiting for him, to help his getaway, but we know nothing about her either.
At times the simple suspense of wondering will the robbers be caught, and how, gives the movie some tension. But, without the high-class cinematography and pacing of another truck movie, The Wages of Fear, or our involvement in the robbers' emotions, the movie is not nearly as exciting as it might be.
There is one breathtaking moment--at the end, one of the robbers is suddenly undone by the very method he used to rob the train. The surprise of this moment, combined with its irony and justice, give the picture an emotional punch that is otherwise lacking.
At times the simple suspense of wondering will the robbers be caught, and how, gives the movie some tension. But, without the high-class cinematography and pacing of another truck movie, The Wages of Fear, or our involvement in the robbers' emotions, the movie is not nearly as exciting as it might be.
There is one breathtaking moment--at the end, one of the robbers is suddenly undone by the very method he used to rob the train. The surprise of this moment, combined with its irony and justice, give the picture an emotional punch that is otherwise lacking.
Simple And Tough Thriller
boblipton12 September 2019
A well planned and executed train robbery is carried out in silence in twelve minutes. The take is over ten million dollars in gold. Now the six thieves -- Gene Raymond, Wayne Morris, Elisha Cook, Jr, Stafford Repp and Steven Rich -- have to get it past the roadblocks from border to border.
It's a decently done B movie, with some nice talent in front of the camera and behind it, too; Ernest Haller runs a nice camera, with an increasingly filled and claustrophobic screen. A little too much time is spent in chat, but what are you going to do when you're driving a truck several thousand miles, and the voice on the radio is always the same?
Once again, I am impressed by Gene Raymond, whom I had once written off as a pretty-boy actor from the 1930s. This was Wayne Morris' last movie shoot; one he had shot earlier sat on the shelves for a few years.
It's a decently done B movie, with some nice talent in front of the camera and behind it, too; Ernest Haller runs a nice camera, with an increasingly filled and claustrophobic screen. A little too much time is spent in chat, but what are you going to do when you're driving a truck several thousand miles, and the voice on the radio is always the same?
Once again, I am impressed by Gene Raymond, whom I had once written off as a pretty-boy actor from the 1930s. This was Wayne Morris' last movie shoot; one he had shot earlier sat on the shelves for a few years.
Code and precedent.
potfilms28 September 2014
Warning: Spoilers
Enjoyable B movie, nicely shot in black and white and "Regalscope".
Wonder if the writers had seen the 1951 British comedy THE LAVENDER HILL MOB which had a similar solution for smuggling gold bullion as the last car in this? It is always a little dispiriting to know in advance with crime thrillers in this Production Code Enforcement era, that no matter how clever the crooks or plotting, they won't get away with it, and there will be a shift in sympathy away from the criminals at some point (the gratuitous murder of the garage owner.) Hubert Cornfield went on th o make some more interesting movies including PRESSURE POINT and NIGHT OF THE FOLLOWING DAY with Marlon Brando.
Wonder if the writers had seen the 1951 British comedy THE LAVENDER HILL MOB which had a similar solution for smuggling gold bullion as the last car in this? It is always a little dispiriting to know in advance with crime thrillers in this Production Code Enforcement era, that no matter how clever the crooks or plotting, they won't get away with it, and there will be a shift in sympathy away from the criminals at some point (the gratuitous murder of the garage owner.) Hubert Cornfield went on th o make some more interesting movies including PRESSURE POINT and NIGHT OF THE FOLLOWING DAY with Marlon Brando.
"900 miles to go"
bensonmum225 May 2017
$10 million in gold is being shipped by rail to San Francisco from Salt Lake City. Five men are determined to see that the gold doesn't make it. The men successfully pull-off a daring nighttime robbery and snatch the $10 million. Their plan includes loading the gold into three different trucks. At regular intervals, they set off for the coast where they intend to rendezvous and split their loot. Will they make it? (This is a film noir - you know things are bound to go horribly wrong.)
Plunder Road is a nice little low-budget noir/crime/drama film. While I enjoyed every second of the movie, the highlight for me has to be the robbery that takes up at least the first 15 minutes of the film's 72 minute runtime. Similar to Rififi, the robbery is carried out almost entirely in silence. The plan is well thought out and executed. The coordination between the five guys makes for a great watch. Director Hubert Cornfield expertly filmed this section of the movie. He wisely included almost every detail - from the masks to the gassing of the guards to the handling of the explosives. Some of the camera angles Cornfield chose helped to increase the excitement of the whole thing. I also think that filming the heist in pouring rain was a wise decision. The rain added even more suspense and atmosphere. While I'm not overly familiar with most of the cast (Elisha Cook, Jr, being the exception), they all give nice performances. I think I was most impressed with Stafford Repp as Roly Adams, but that may only be because he's familiar to me having played Chief O'Hara on Batman in the 60s. Plunder Road's ending is appropriately bleak. As with most good film noir, none of the characters comes out unscathed.
Plunder Road is a nice little low-budget noir/crime/drama film. While I enjoyed every second of the movie, the highlight for me has to be the robbery that takes up at least the first 15 minutes of the film's 72 minute runtime. Similar to Rififi, the robbery is carried out almost entirely in silence. The plan is well thought out and executed. The coordination between the five guys makes for a great watch. Director Hubert Cornfield expertly filmed this section of the movie. He wisely included almost every detail - from the masks to the gassing of the guards to the handling of the explosives. Some of the camera angles Cornfield chose helped to increase the excitement of the whole thing. I also think that filming the heist in pouring rain was a wise decision. The rain added even more suspense and atmosphere. While I'm not overly familiar with most of the cast (Elisha Cook, Jr, being the exception), they all give nice performances. I think I was most impressed with Stafford Repp as Roly Adams, but that may only be because he's familiar to me having played Chief O'Hara on Batman in the 60s. Plunder Road's ending is appropriately bleak. As with most good film noir, none of the characters comes out unscathed.
Solid Gold Cadillac
kapelusznik1827 October 2015
Warning: Spoilers
***SPOILLERS*** Pulling off the biggest-10 million dollars worth-train robbery in history was the easy part but being able to get it-the gold-out of the country was a lot more difficulty to the train robbers who pulled it off. Splitting up in two trucks and one oil tanker the five desperado's lead by man of the hour Eddie, Gene Raymond,, and his partner former race driver Frankie, Steven Rich, make a run for it to L.A where their to convert the cold into spear parts for their cars to avoid detection by the police. On the way to L.A one of the robbers Roly Adams, Stefford Repp, has his police radio turned when the police check his truck and panics ending up getting shot as he on the run turned to shoot at them.
It's Skeets, Elisha Cook Jr., and his driving partner Commando,Wayne Morris, who when they stopped to get gas become involved in the murder of an elderly gas station attendant, who's social security check alone can't pay the bills, who noticed Commando dropping his gun who in return iced the old man from keeping him from talking to the police. It wasn't long that a police road block had the two arrested and later face not only a robbery but murder charge. It's now Eddie & Frankie who are on the run who make it to L.A where Eddie's girlfriend Fran, Jeanne Cooper, is waiting for them with a getaway car,
***SPOILERS***Packing the car with gold fenders- that was smelted at Fran's garage- it's now just a matter of time for the trio-Eddie Frankie & Fran-to get on a boat going to, via the Panama Canal, Libson Portugal where, in them being able to speak Portuguese, they will be home sweet home free. That's until a fender bender on the L.A freeway by an absent minded feather brained woman driver put a wrench into their perfect crime. Frankie making a run for it is shot by the highway police and Eddie, the brains of the outfit, tries to make his getaway by jumping off an overpass and ends up getting crushed when an 18 wheeler runs over him. As for Fran she survives but will be spending time in prison not on the sunny beaches of Lisbon sipping wine and and getting sun tanned like she planned to do with her late lover Eddie.
It's Skeets, Elisha Cook Jr., and his driving partner Commando,Wayne Morris, who when they stopped to get gas become involved in the murder of an elderly gas station attendant, who's social security check alone can't pay the bills, who noticed Commando dropping his gun who in return iced the old man from keeping him from talking to the police. It wasn't long that a police road block had the two arrested and later face not only a robbery but murder charge. It's now Eddie & Frankie who are on the run who make it to L.A where Eddie's girlfriend Fran, Jeanne Cooper, is waiting for them with a getaway car,
***SPOILERS***Packing the car with gold fenders- that was smelted at Fran's garage- it's now just a matter of time for the trio-Eddie Frankie & Fran-to get on a boat going to, via the Panama Canal, Libson Portugal where, in them being able to speak Portuguese, they will be home sweet home free. That's until a fender bender on the L.A freeway by an absent minded feather brained woman driver put a wrench into their perfect crime. Frankie making a run for it is shot by the highway police and Eddie, the brains of the outfit, tries to make his getaway by jumping off an overpass and ends up getting crushed when an 18 wheeler runs over him. As for Fran she survives but will be spending time in prison not on the sunny beaches of Lisbon sipping wine and and getting sun tanned like she planned to do with her late lover Eddie.
A grade "B" gem!
JohnHowardReid22 May 2017
Warning: Spoilers
Copyright 1957 by Regal Films, Inc. Released through 20th Century- Fox. No New York opening. U.S. release: December 1957. U.K. release: 13 January 1958. Australian release: 24 April 1958. 6,476 feet. 72 minutes.
SYNOPSIS: A gang of five robs a gold train bound for the San Francisco mint.
COMMENT: The two films Hubert Cornfield directed for Regal are the best of the series, and "Plunder Road" is the better of the two. (The other Cornfield entry is "Lure of the Swamp"). With only a handful of exceptions, almost invariably the other films in the series are over-talkative, desultory affairs with little action and virtually no suspense or tension. "Plunder Road" is a complete negation of the usual Regal modus operandi, the exception that proves the rule.
From its gripping opening sequence, tension never falters. Of course, Cornfield's incisive, driving direction cannot rate as the only factor. The ingenuity of the Ritch-Charney script must also share the credit. Sure, it's an old plot, told many times before, but the variations here are most intriguing.
The casting is A-1 too. Gene Raymond, Wayne Morris and Elisha Cook hand in their usual reliable portrayals, Jeanne Cooper makes an attractive heroine, whilst scriptwriter Steven Ritch contributes a stand-out performance as a nervous wheelman. Cornfield's direction is not flashy, but as said above, it neatly combines an unrelenting pace with tingling suspense, and keeps audience interest at an uncommonly high pitch. Locations are used to advantage, enabling the story to peak at a satisfying climax.
Veteran cinematographer Ernest Haller (Gone With The Wind, Mildred Pierce, Rebel Without a Cause) has a chance to show us what superior work he can really do (unlike his lackluster camera-work on Christian Nyby's "Hell on Devil's Island"). In fact, "Plunder Road" is easily the best photographed Regal Film of all.
SYNOPSIS: A gang of five robs a gold train bound for the San Francisco mint.
COMMENT: The two films Hubert Cornfield directed for Regal are the best of the series, and "Plunder Road" is the better of the two. (The other Cornfield entry is "Lure of the Swamp"). With only a handful of exceptions, almost invariably the other films in the series are over-talkative, desultory affairs with little action and virtually no suspense or tension. "Plunder Road" is a complete negation of the usual Regal modus operandi, the exception that proves the rule.
From its gripping opening sequence, tension never falters. Of course, Cornfield's incisive, driving direction cannot rate as the only factor. The ingenuity of the Ritch-Charney script must also share the credit. Sure, it's an old plot, told many times before, but the variations here are most intriguing.
The casting is A-1 too. Gene Raymond, Wayne Morris and Elisha Cook hand in their usual reliable portrayals, Jeanne Cooper makes an attractive heroine, whilst scriptwriter Steven Ritch contributes a stand-out performance as a nervous wheelman. Cornfield's direction is not flashy, but as said above, it neatly combines an unrelenting pace with tingling suspense, and keeps audience interest at an uncommonly high pitch. Locations are used to advantage, enabling the story to peak at a satisfying climax.
Veteran cinematographer Ernest Haller (Gone With The Wind, Mildred Pierce, Rebel Without a Cause) has a chance to show us what superior work he can really do (unlike his lackluster camera-work on Christian Nyby's "Hell on Devil's Island"). In fact, "Plunder Road" is easily the best photographed Regal Film of all.
A Very Less Perfect Plan
ricardojorgeramalho7 March 2023
Plunder Road is an interesting film, although not fully achieved.
It tells the story of a fantastic robbery on a train, with a shipment of gold, meticulously and intelligently planned, but fatally destined to failure, as, very illuminatingly, states one of the secondary characters.
The point is that the supposed adverse fate manifests itself through gross errors and not hypothetical bad luck, or even effective police control.
The adventurers end up victims of their own stupidity, which clearly contradicts the film's initial premise, a perfect plan, destroyed only by imponderable unforeseen events.
A noir film that thrives above all on tension and not so much on a good script, as this proves to be, essentially, much more fragile than it promises.
It tells the story of a fantastic robbery on a train, with a shipment of gold, meticulously and intelligently planned, but fatally destined to failure, as, very illuminatingly, states one of the secondary characters.
The point is that the supposed adverse fate manifests itself through gross errors and not hypothetical bad luck, or even effective police control.
The adventurers end up victims of their own stupidity, which clearly contradicts the film's initial premise, a perfect plan, destroyed only by imponderable unforeseen events.
A noir film that thrives above all on tension and not so much on a good script, as this proves to be, essentially, much more fragile than it promises.
Not perfect, but a fine heist film nonetheless.
punishmentpark25 December 2015
Warning: Spoilers
'Plunder road' opens with a long, rather complicated train robbery in the dark and rain which is quite terrific. Then follows the execution of the getaway plan, in which the loot (loads of heavy gold) is transferred into three different trucks, which all go their separate ways for a while. Plotwise, I may have missed something, because I thought they were all headed straight for the border, but one truck ends up in Los Angeles.
This is a tense heist film, although the flaws in the getaway plan(s) are quite obvious; when Eddie speaks of gold bending easily, while they have just made car bumpers (with a little chrome to cover it) out of them, you just knów there's going to be an accident. And that silly guy who leaves the police radio on... these hardly seem like the clever and tough criminals they are initially made out to be. Such things are rather easily forgiven though, with all the terrific action and loads of entertaining dialogue (especially Elisha Cook Jr.'s talk about Rio and his son). Furthermore, 'Plunder road' is somewhat understated and subtle in its ways, which is a big plus also.
A small 8 out of 10.
This is a tense heist film, although the flaws in the getaway plan(s) are quite obvious; when Eddie speaks of gold bending easily, while they have just made car bumpers (with a little chrome to cover it) out of them, you just knów there's going to be an accident. And that silly guy who leaves the police radio on... these hardly seem like the clever and tough criminals they are initially made out to be. Such things are rather easily forgiven though, with all the terrific action and loads of entertaining dialogue (especially Elisha Cook Jr.'s talk about Rio and his son). Furthermore, 'Plunder road' is somewhat understated and subtle in its ways, which is a big plus also.
A small 8 out of 10.
Top-Notch Robbery Flick - Plunder Road
arthur_tafero16 January 2022
This is a top of the line robbery flick; with an ingenious method of both robbery and getaway. Only human error can stop the thieves. Everyone in the cast gives a good performance, and the storyline is as tight as a drum. The only weakness of the film is the ending, which because of the extremely annoying film code at the time, made it imperative that wrongdoers must be punished by the end of the film. In real life, that probably would not have happened, and with a caper like this, even less likely. There are stellar performances by Gene Raymond and Chester Morris, and Elisha Cook is always entertaining. I echoed the thoughts of the girl in the diner; I wanted them to get away with it as well; at least until they started to get out of control. Very suspenseful.
Not Great
arfdawg-15 October 2019
This movie is not very thrilling. In fact, it's rather dull.
One problem is you thrown into the film with ZERO background -- who re these guys? How did they get together? How did they plan the heist? What are they planning to do?
Basic questions that might make you care or be interested in the robbers are left unanswered. The film starts with the robbery and never generates any sort of tension.
One problem is you thrown into the film with ZERO background -- who re these guys? How did they get together? How did they plan the heist? What are they planning to do?
Basic questions that might make you care or be interested in the robbers are left unanswered. The film starts with the robbery and never generates any sort of tension.
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
