''Man in the Vault'' is a 1956

film noir Film noir (; ) is a style of Cinema of the United States, Hollywood Crime film, crime dramas that emphasizes cynicism (contemporary), cynical attitudes and motivations. The 1940s and 1950s are generally regarded as the "classic period" of Ameri ...

about a locksmith, played by William Campbell, who is forced to help gangsters commit a robbery. The screenplay by

Burt Kennedy Burton Raphael Kennedy (September 3, 1922 – February 15, 2001) was an American screenwriter and film director, director known mainly for directing Westerns. Budd Boetticher called him "the best Western writer ever." Biography Kennedy was b ...

was based on the novel ''The Lock and the Key'' by

Frank Gruber Frank Gruber (born February 2, 1904, Elmer, Minnesota, died December 9, 1969, Santa Monica, California) was an American writer of short stories, novels, and screenplays. Included in his work are stories for pulp fiction magazines, dozens of ...

. The film was the directorial debut of Andrew V. McLaglen.

Plot

Willis Trent wants to rob the safety deposit box of a crooked Los Angeles businessman, Paul De Camp. He has lawyer Earl Farraday smooth-talk the guy's girlfriend, the two-timing Flo Randall, into revealing the bank box's number. Now they need a locksmith. A henchman called Herbie is sent to find one. He settles on Tommy Dancer, who works as a locksmith. Tommy is quickly smitten with Earl's girl Betty Turner, but is a law-abiding citizen and rejects an offer of $5,000. Tommy takes Betty to the

Hollywood Bowl The Hollywood Bowl is an amphitheatre and Urban park, public park in the Hollywood Hills of Los Angeles, California. It was named one of the 10 best live music venues in the United States by ''Rolling Stone'' magazine in 2018 and was listed on ...

and learns she comes from a wealthy family. Tommy's attentions to her get him a beating from Louie, another big thug. He is told Betty's face will be disfigured if he refuses to cooperate. Breaking into the box is no problem, but Tommy thinks he has been double-crossed by Betty and decides to keep the $200,000. He stashes the cash in a locker at the bowling alley. Flo confesses her part in the scheme to De Camp, who goes after Tommy, hurling bowling balls and shooting at him before the cops show up. Tommy races to save Betty, realizing she is on the level. Trent ends up dead.

Cast

* William Campbell as Tommy Dancer *

Karen Sharpe Karen Kay Sharpe (born September 20, 1934) is an American film and television actress. She is known for playing Laura Thomas in the American western television series '' Johnny Ringo''. Life and career Sharpe was born in San Antonio, Texas, t ...

as Betty Turner *

Anita Ekberg Kerstin Anita Marianne Ekberg (29 September 193111 January 2015) was a Swedish actress active in American and European films, known for her beauty and curvaceous figure. She became prominent in her iconic role as Sylvia in the Federico Fellini f ...

as Flo Randall * Berry Kroger as Willis Trent *

Paul Fix Peter Paul Fix (March 13, 1901 – October 14, 1983) was an American film and television character actor who was best known for his work in Westerns. Fix appeared in more than 100 movies and dozens of television shows over a 56-year career be ...

as Herbie *

James Seay James Seay (September 9, 1914 – October 10, 1992) was an American character actor who often played minor supporting roles as government officials. Early years Seay demonstrated an interest in acting at an early age, as he and his mothe ...

as Paul De Camp *

Mike Mazurki Mike Mazurki (December 25, 1907 – December 9, 1990, born Markiian Yulianovych Mazurkevych) was a Ukrainian-American actor and professional wrestler who appeared in more than 142 films. Although educated as an attorney, his hulking 6 ft 5 ...

as Louie *Robert Keys as Earl Farraday *Nancy Duke as Trent's girlfriend * Gonzales Gonzales as Pedro *

John Mitchum John Mitchum (September 6, 1919 – November 29, 2001) was an American actor from the 1940s to the 1970s in film and television. The younger brother of the actor Robert Mitchum, he was credited as Jack Mitchum early in his career. Early years ...

as Andy (uncredited)

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Man In The Vault 1956 films 1956 crime films American black-and-white films American crime films Batjac Productions films 1950s English-language films Film noir Films based on American novels Films directed by Andrew McLaglen Films produced by John Wayne Films set in Los Angeles American heist films 1956 directorial debut films 1950s American films RKO Pictures films English-language crime films