Bodyguard

source: Bodyguard

Trailer—Bodyguard

Bodyguard

a naive story. classic thriller. not bad actors. and Robert Altman first steps. the pieces - a good guy in troubles, his girl friend, a wise old lady, the murderer. a childish plot but, in same measure, seductive script and interesting performance. Lawrence Tierney does a credible detective with usual ingredients of innocent in a dark world and virtues of perfect hero. Priscilla Lane is best choice as young courageous woman who gives help to her boy-friend and serves with strong energy the justice. at first sigh, nothing original. but a nice film has not need by originality. flavor of old rules, vulnerable old lady and honest detective are enough for few sparkles of memories.

Lawrence Tierney plays a homicide detective who gets kicked off the force for his bad temper. He lands a bodyguard job, but soon finds himself framed for murder. Although it's hardly a noir masterpiece, it's an enjoyable film that ranks among Fleischer's better efforts. The script (by a young Robert Altman, of all people!) is tight and lean, with some fun bits of business. The photography is not especially memorable, but it gets the job done and there are a few unusual close-ups. It's nice to see Tierney in a role that allows him to stretch a little more than his usual "psychotic heavy" parts, and he has a lively chemistry with the adorable Priscilla Lane. The whodunit aspect of the film isn't all that satisfying (you can guess who the bad guy is the moment you see him/her) but it's got some nice details and is sufficiently entertaining.

A lightning paced noir from Richard Fleischer featuring another tough as nails performance by Lawrence Tierney. As a cop recently drummed off the force, Tierney reluctantly takes a job as bodyguard to the head of meat packing company and uncovers plenty of shenanigans. Fleischer, who excelled at putting together excellent hard boiled thrillers during the early part of his career, does not disappoint here. This slender noir gives Tierney a great opportunity to do what he does best...snarl and toss off nasty one-liners. He's always entertaining. He's also well paired with the terrific Priscilla Lane. Always full of spunk and game for anything, it's a shame that the very talented Lane did not have a more substanative film career.

For what it is,this is a thoroughly enjoyable 40's detective flick. Mike Carter (Tierney),gets sacked for punching his superior in an office fracas and becomes tempted into protecting a rich,meat packing business woman from some unscrupulous characters.......oh and gets framed for the murder of his previous superior in the process. Assisting him is Doris Brewster (Lane),his girlfriend who still works in the police station he once frequented,and is able to provide Carter with valuable info from police files now out of his reach. At a runtime of just over an hour,a movie like this needs to have a cracking pace,and this movie doesn't disappoint. It has all the action,intrigue,humour and suspense you could need,including some great one liners delivered by Tierney,all thanks to Richard Fleischer's direction. You really cannot go wrong with this one.

They sure don't make 'em like "Bodyguard" anymore. No. They sure don't. This tough-as-nails, 1948, Crime/Thriller certainly packed a lot of story into its 62 minute running time. Containing some really priceless "tough-guy" dialog, "Bodyguard" has no-nonsense actor Lawrence Tierney playing Mike Carter, a real macho-man, L.A. police detective (with a hair-trigger temper) from the Homicide Squad. When Mike gets bounced off the force for brawling with his superior officer, who is later found dead, he becomes Suspect #1. Scrambling to clear his name, Carter soon finds himself up against a whole big mess of police corruption. "Bodyguard", filmed in b&w, is a solid, fast-paced, little B-movie with striking direction from Richard Fleischer. Nope. They sure don't make 'em like this anymore.

Bodyguard is what Phillip Reed wants to hire recently former LA homicide Lawrence Tierney detective for. Reed feels his rich aunt Elizabeth Risdon is in need of protection.How right he is and she's not the only one. Tierney got bounced off the force recently for excessive force and his immediate superior who did the bouncing was killed. He's a suspect and Tierney has to protect Risdon and be wary not to be arrested. Risdon is a meat packing plant owner which has made her rich and there's quite a racket going on there. That also is uncovered by Tierney and girl Friday Priscilla Lane. Best scene in the film is Tierney listening to Priscilla Lane on record drone on about all the cases the recently deceased detective was on. Quite a laborious and boring task as Tierney's body language shows. Decent programmer without much mystery to it.

Slick,speedy 'B' thriller with on(and off!)screen tough guy Lawrence Tierney as a suspended cop eventually agreeing to do some work on the side as a bodyguard for a wealthy family.The plot is inevitably fairly routine,but there are some well-handled scenes,and it remains watchable.One fact not usually mentioned;this was the final screen appearance of Priscilla Lane(best known for her roles in WARNER BROS. classics in the 30's,and Hitchcock's SABOTEUR);she was still far too young and surely had more years ahead as a screen actress.Her performance in her screen bow is OK,like Tierney and the rest of the cast.Director Richard Flesicher had better 'B' efforts up his sleeve though(THE NARROW MARGIN),a few years later.