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Phil KarlsonKansas City Confidential (1952)

Four robbers hold up an armored truck getting away with over a million dollars in cash. Joe Rolfe (John Payne), a down-on-his-luck flower delivery truck driver is accused of being involved and is beaten up by the local police. Released due to lack of evidence, Joe, following the clues to a Mexican resort, decides to look for the men who set him up and get revenge.


This movie is part of the collection: Film Noir

Director: Phil Karlson
Producer: Edward Small
Production Company: United Artists
Sponsor: k-otic.com
Audio/Visual: sound, black & white
Keywords: Crime; Drama; Film-Noir; Mystery
Contact Information: www.k-otic.com

Creative Commons license: Public Domain

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Reviewer: valensage - - September 17, 2009
Subject: Budding actors in a great movie.
Lee Van Cleef, Neville Brand and Jack Elam all budding character actors, played their roles pretty darned well. Although the leading role was played by one of my least favorite actors, (John Payne) it turned out to be well directed. Low budget maybe, but that doesn't always set the movie in stone. Good job......

Reviewer: keygrip - - August 13, 2009
Subject: Don't get too carried away
This is an entertaining B Movie greatly enhanced by the presence of top notch heavies Neville Brand,Lee Van Cleef and Jack Elam. Some of the reviews here are however way over the top. To put the film in the same bracket as The Big Sleep and The Maltese Falcon, is frankly ludicrous.
Nonetheless, it was time well spent

Reviewer: BABatson - - August 8, 2009
Subject: An 'A' Class Film
The list of famous old west villains is noted by others. This film is United Artists (UA) at its best and most profitable period. The impression in this film is that it is and actor's and director's film -- in which there is very strong effort on the part of the whole team to make it a work of excellence. Whether they succeeded, jusge for yourself. The story line seems to have run into the barrier of "running out" before the film can be ended -- unless it is by then a totally existential story. I hope you'll download the full 3 GB version -- the quality of the photography is worth the effort to get highest resolution. There is no lack nor lapse of quality in the technical recording of the high mega-byte version.

Reviewer: JD Kay - - April 18, 2009
Subject: Watch a young Jack Elam smoke up a storm!
All of the previous reviews are accurate in describing just how outstanding this chestnut really is. In addition to all of the the hard talkin' tough guys action in this film, we also witness Jack Elam getting bitch-slapped AND smoking more than an outdoor BBQ.
In my humble opinion, it's Jack Elam who is the brightest star in this film.
My favorite line is when Jack Elam's character (a real slimy weasel) tells the main character, "You've been giving me the fisheye all night."

Reviewer: The Bryson Bandit - - March 28, 2009
Subject: Absolutely FANtastic movie!!
You gotta watch this one if you're a FAN, as I am,of movies fromt the 30's, 50's, & 50's. As a previous reviewer said: 'they just don't make like this anymore'.
Truer words never said!! One of the best movies in this entire library of incredible films!!

Reviewer: vostf - - February 23, 2009
Subject: Top noth Film Noir
It could have been just another Film Noir involving the Wrong Man and a bunch of gangsters, but the directorial work of Phil Karlson makes this an entrancing movie from start to finish.

There's never a dull shot as in so many 'poverty row' noirs of the 40s and 50s. It's one of those (too)rare movies where I'm not thinking about what could be done better. I just end up thinking "Hell, this was really good, who the Devil Made it?"

Reviewer: handydan1956 - - October 22, 2008
Subject: They Just Don't Make 'em Like This any More
A gem. I say, thanks for 'somethin.'

handydan1956

Reviewer: jazzfan - - October 10, 2008
Subject: "I said thanks, for nothin'!"
KC Confidential is still the best, always a treat to watch. Anybody know about it's sister city/movie: CHICAGO CONFIDENTIAL? I've seen the trailer for it but that's it. Let me know...Richard

Reviewer: surfvh - - October 8, 2008
Subject: One of the top 3 best film noirs I've seen!
This movie keeps you engaged throughout. Super solid acting, a plot full of twists and surprises, and no drifting off into sappiness or weak-willed stupidity as so many modern films are wont to do(did you see that last "James Bond" movie, oh brother!). In this movie everybody is a tough guy who really is a tough guy. No compromise. I like that, and so will you. Watch this movie. It's truly one of the great ones.

Reviewer: Vance Capley - - September 29, 2008
Subject: KCC should spread the word!
It is sad that this movie fell into public domain. This film is right up there with Maltese Falcon, Third Man, or Big Sleep!

Enjoy this one with your favorite smoke!

Reviewer: nbergkvist - - January 11, 2008
Subject: Great film....most of it.
Well I was surprised. This was a real sleeper that slipped through our hands, worth the watch. I downloaded the Mpeg 1 version and it ended short...

I'm sure it ended the way I suspect, however it kept me engaged throughout.

Thanks so much for the upload. I'll try the Mpeg 2 version so I have the film for a popcorn night.

Reviewer: Meatpopsicle - - October 17, 2007
Subject: Kansas City Confidential
Excellnt film noir. The best of the "B" actors make for an "A" film.

Reviewer: b11761500s - - September 13, 2007
Subject: Pretty Darn Good
Nice to get a movie worth its download time. Good acting by all involved. Well paced and good action. Don't know why directors put everyone in suits, ties, and hats in these Mexican tourist towns in the 1940's. Can't imagine any real human being dressing like that, especially bad guys. But, the actors all did a credible job and it was nice to see them when they were starting off.

Reviewer: MetroBase - - September 11, 2007
Subject: "Why I otta!"
This is a great flick. I really like the heavy handed approach; these guys slap and punch their way through this movie. Real tough guys like Neville Brand, John Payne, Jack Elam and a young Lee Van Cliff. The beginning is the best part, the planning stage which is really unique. The suspense in the middle keeps this one going, until the last part when things get pretty weird for our hero (I won’t give it away). And let’s not forget the dame played by Coleen Gray as a law student that’s so hot for John Payne she’s willing to over look his criminal past. Like most dame’s of the time set’s out to “Change Him” Yea right!! You gotta see this one.
-MetroBase

Reviewer: bearpuf - - June 16, 2007
Subject: Worth the Watch
The storyline alone is high caliber to keep one hanging throughout the movie. Coupled with that to see the likes of Nevil Brand, Lee Van Cleef,and Jack Elam, as the terrific low lifes they often became typecast adds enjoyable flavor to the story. It's great to see an exciting drama where the special effects aren't the highlight of the view.

Reviewer: Scott Saunders - - June 13, 2007
Subject: whoo - hoo k-otic is back.
I'm sure it's good. Welcome back k-otic.

Reviewer: IAmTheRedDragon - - June 13, 2007
Subject: Wow - a must-see for Film Noir fans
Thank you so much for uploading this great film! It's a gripping story of an innocent man who has been randomly framed for a major robbery, by persons unknown. He sets out to find out who did this to him and why, meeting with lots of unsavoury characters and twists and turns along the way. A great cast, including a very early baddie role for Lee van Cleef, and one of my fave classic psycho heavies, Neville Brand, plus a gritty and determined lead in the form of John Payne. A really absorbing film.