Rent The Crimson Kimono (1959)

Post-Noir. - The Crimson Kimono review by Steve

It's a Sam Fuller film, so it kicks off with a bang. Gunfire is heard in the dressing room of a burlesque theatre. A stripper runs down main street in her heels and scanties to be shot dead in a line of traffic. Sugar Torch's murder is tangled up in the LA Japanese community. A contrasting pair of detectives who served together in Korea are on the case: the easy going WASP/jock (Glenn Corbett) and a sensitive, cultured Japanese American (James Shigeta).

The core of the film is its inter-racial triangle between the two veterans and the arts student (Victoria Shaw) who is helping them with their enquiries. Censorship made this still problematic in 1959. Through a late period film noir, Fuller challenged the traditional Hollywood taboo on race. This was around the time of the start of the civil rights movement.

With its big band soundtrack (solo clarinet for the romantic scenes), chases and punch ups, and seedy, lowlife locations and characters, this is a model for the emerging tv crime series. An oddball stool pigeon is especially familiar. There are no big stars. But Fuller's camera setups are far more interesting than on telly, and there is more background detail. There's an extensive tour of LA's Japanese district.

The three leads would go on to have careers almost exclusively on the small screen. They lack star charisma, but the two cops' friendship is engaging with its odd couple chemistry; Corbett is laid back and self possessed, Shibeta is intense and volatile. We'd see that dynamic again! The murder case is perfunctory and the racism no longer challenging. But Fuller shoots with ingenuity and cuts with energy, which keeps the film alive.