Neglected Noir: "The Sniper" (1952)

Phillyrich · Post by **Phillyrich** » Mon Jun 27, 2011 9:39 am

Recently watched for the first time, THE SNIPER with Arthur Franz and directed by Edward Dmytryk. This is part of a fairly recent box set of Columbia Film Noirs (Vol 1, incl. THE BIG HEAT).

Some striking scenes of violence, and just because they are so creative and beautifully restrained. A woman shot on a quiet night street and her head slams into a picture window, shattering the glass--with a quick cut-away. No gore or blood, but what a startling shot.

A maintenance man on a rope, on a tall smokestack points out the sniper--and is unwittingly trapped, and shot. A woman at a carnival show sits in a screened-in dunking pool (if you can throw the baseball through a hole, she falls off her seat into the water)--and Franz keeps dunking her with accurate throws as his anger grows, then finally starts throwing the baseballs at her as she screams in horror. Never any blood, no slo motion, self-conscious editing--but what an impact.

Franz is caught in a quiet ending, alone in his barren apartment with his gun, with a glistening shot of tears running down his face.

Some of the psychology is slender ( Franz abused by his mother is suggested), but still and all, a memorable film. I wonder if any others felt the same way.

If you've never seen it--well worth it.

Ray Faiola · Post by **Ray Faiola** » Mon Jun 27, 2011 9:56 am

THE SNIPER is but one of a series of pictures that Kramer made for Columbia and most of them have been out of distribution for decades due to limited literary license.

According to Kramer every one of the films lost money until THE CAINE MUTINY, which made up the loss on the entire group.

A very unique group of films and, yes, THE SNIPER is terrific!