Once a Thief (1950)

Here is Cesar Romero as the ultimately garish but smooth cad(driving a Cadillac on the repo list to boot) who is out for what he can get and getting away with it for most of this tacky but tantalizing little opus. Poor June Havoc is the harried heroine who gets hooked up with the wrong people with virtually every turn she makes. Marie Mcdonald(‘The Body’coined by some overheated, trench-coated Hollywood press agent) plays "Flo" the virtuous girl next door yet she still radiates a measure of OOOOMPH! on screen. Made on a frayed shoelace budget, this film still uses its minimal set pieces to the max. The dialogue is as strong as a scalding pot of coffee bubbling on a hot plate. Watch out for Lon Chaney,Jr. as Romero’s ‘yes’man with a heart. Iris Adrian as the girl who leads June Havoc down the wrong path almost steals the show as well. Once A Thief is like cheap perfume. Packaged properly, one whiff and you’re hooked.

Cast: Cesar Romero , June Havoc, Marie McDonald, Lon Chaney Jr.

1950, 88 minutes, B&W