5 Against the House **** (1955, Guy Madison, Kim Novak, Brian Keith, Alvy Moore, Kerwin Mathews, William Conrad) – Classic Movie Review 7612

Director Phil Karlson’s commendable 1955 black and white film noir crime thriller 5 Against the House is especially suspenseful and inventively written. It is notable as an early example of a filmed heist and depiction of a casino robbery, though a lot of the film is character and situation led, following the hero Al (Guy Madison)’s love affair with cabaret singer Kay (Kim Novak) and Al’s protective relationship with his damaged buddy Brick (Brian Keith), who saved his life in the war.

Kerwin Mathews also stars as brainy rich kid Ronnie, who plans a foolproof ‘perfect crime’ heist by himself and his three other college friends (Guy Madison as Al, Brian Keith as Brick, Alvy Moore as Roy), as well as Al’s girlfriend, nightclub cabaret singer Kay (Kim Novak), against Harold’s Club casino in Reno, Nevada. Al and Kay join in the heist unwittingly, joining the others in a caravan on their way to Reno to get married.

Based on the story in the novel by Jack Finney, this splendid thriller is tautly and tensely directed by Karlson. Keith gives a standout turn as the psychotic Korean War veteran, former GI member of the gang, suffering from what is now known as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Keith moves from charming companion and ladies’ man to violent psycho with convincing ease. Alvy Moore’s comedy relief turn as smart aleck Roy is less involving, but the actor does what was required. Sweaty William Conrad makes a dour noir impression as the casino money guard.

Karlson impresses with his Reno footage, and his imaginative filming in the studio sets, with eye-catching images and exciting tracking shots. He is in full control of the material and the production, making the absolute best of it. There is tremendous use of the multi-level parking lot location, which has a crucial role in the film. And there is even a Mrs Robinson-style seductive shot through Kay’s leg in her dressing room.

Also in the cast are Jack Diamond, Jean Willes, John Zaremba, George Brand, Mark Hanna, Hugh Sanders and Carroll McComas.

5 Against the House is directed by Phil Karlson, runs 84 minutes, is made by Romson Productions, is released by Columbia Pictures, is written by Sterling Silliphant, William Bowers and John Barnwell, based on the novel by Jack Finney, is shot in black and white by Leslie White, is produced by Sterling Silliphant and John Barnwell, and is scored  by George Duning.

The film features a fictional robbery of a real Nevada casino, Harold’s Club. The screenplay is based on Jack Finney’s 1954 novel, later serialised by Good Housekeeping magazine.

Born in 1926, Mathews was by far the youngest of the actors playing the four college buddies. The others were born in 1921 or 1922.

Novak’s singing voice is dubbed by Jo Ann Greer (‘The Life of the Party’ and ‘I Went Out of My Way’). It is the 22-year-old Novak’s fourth film. She and Mathews were among the last actors signed to a studio contract by Columbia Pictures producer Harry Cohn.

The four friends are enrolled at Midwestern University, which was fictional at the time of the film but became a reality in the mid-1990s. The University of Nevada, Reno, campus stands in for the fictional Midwestern University. Obviously the men seem too old to be college students, but at the time, many former GIs were taking advantage of the GI Bill and going to college.

Jean Willes is also in Ocean’s Eleven (1960), which has a similar plot.

It is the first filmed screenplay for screenwriter Stirling Silliphant, who went on to write or co-write 47 feature films, and won an Academy Award in 1967 for his screenplay for In the Heat of the Night.

Sony Pictures released 5 Against the House on 3 November 2009 on standard-definition DVD as a part of its collection Film Noir Classics, Volume I along with The Big Heat, The Lineup, Murder by Contract, and The Sniper.

Martin Scorsese is a big fan of Murder by Contract but has also has said that his 1995 film Casino was influenced by 5 Against the House.

Seattle-born Kerwin Mathews had an uncredited bit part in Cell 2455, Death Row (1955) after landing a seven-year studio contract with Columbia Pictures, paid $200 a week. His first credited film role was in 5 Against the House (1955). Mathews retired from acting in 1978 and moved to San Francisco, where he ran a clothing and antiques shop. He died in his sleep in San Francisco on 5 July 2007, aged 81, survived by his partner of 46 years, Tom Nicoll, a British display manager at Harvey Nichols department store.

Marilyn Pauline ‘Kim’ Novak (born February 13, 1933).

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 7612

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