Before I spotted Phil Karlson's 99 River Street on Netflix, I had never even heard of it. Even though it boasted a solid director and the cinematographer who would go on to film Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961), the film had never appeared on any "best-of" list or genre survey of film noir that I had ever encountered. I find that to be quite unfortunate. 99 River Street is a wonderful example of the genre. In a plot reminiscent of the extraordinary Stranger on the Third Floor (1940), the film follows a man accused of a crime he didn't commit trying to clear his name with the help of a sympathetic woman while being pursued by the police. Ernie Driscoll is a disgraced ex-boxer struggling to make a living by driving a cab. When Pauline, his cheating wife, is killed by a gangster in order to cover up for a diamond caper gone wrong, Driscoll finds himself on the run as the primary suspect. He is aided by Linda, an amateur actress who doubles as the only witness to Driscoll's innocence. Together they race to find the gangster that killed Pauline. The trouble is that Driscoll and Linda aren't the only people looking for the gangster. The gangster is also being hunted by a group of criminals he crossed as a result of the failed diamond caper. When they collide with Driscoll and Linda, the results turn deadly. In addition to being a thriller, 99 River Street dives deep into Driscoll's psychology and torment as a boxer who never quite made it to the top. His quest to clear his name coincides with a journey to re-discover his own personal sense of worth. It may not be very popular or well-known, but 99 River Street is a film noir worthy of study and admiration.
7/10
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