“Kansas City Confidential” is a 1952 film noir directed by Phil Karlson. The film follows an ex-convict named Joe Rolfe (John Payne), who is falsely accused of robbing an armored truck that carried a significant amount of money. Rolfe embarks on a mission to clear his name and find the real culprits behind the heist.
The robbery was orchestrated by a mastermind criminal named “Mr. Big,” who hired three men to carry out the job. The robbers wore masks to conceal their identities, and the stolen money was laundered through a Mexican casino.
As Rolfe begins to investigate, he encounters the three robbers, who are all unaware of each other’s identities, as Mr. Big insisted that they remain anonymous. They are Pete Harris (Jack Elam), Boyd Kane (Neville Brand), and Tony Romano (Lee Van Cleef).
Rolfe also meets the daughter of the armored truck company’s owner, Helen Foster (Coleen Gray), who is trying to find her father’s stolen money. Together, they track down the robbers and eventually discover Mr. Big’s true identity.
The film’s twist ending reveals the surprising truth behind the robbery, and Rolfe and Helen are finally able to bring the criminals to justice.
Overall, “Kansas City Confidential” is a thrilling and suspenseful film that is considered a classic in the film noir genre.
Directors:
Phil Karlson
Writer:
George Bruce, Harry Essex, Harold Greene
Stars:
John Payne, Coleen Gray, Preston Foster
