Rating: 
Summary: CRISS CROSSED ON A SCANT DVD PRESENTATION
Review: Robert Siodmak's "Criss Cross" is a stylishly bleak, torrid and brilliant ménage a trois of shadowy intersecting lives in which all the multilayered plot entanglements are tainted with a threat of violence and ultimately lead to ruin and betrayal. Burt Lancaster is Steve Thompson, a love-struck mama's boy who returns from a one year sabbatical after his painful divorce from the love of his life, Anna (Yvonne DeCarlo) only to discover that Anna is eager to rekindle their love. The lure is not without its own subtext. Against his better judgment, Steve jumps into the deep end of the pool, so to speak, and once more, ignites his tawdry lust that ends miserably when Anna decides to better herself - financially, at least - by marrying mobster, Slim Dundee (Dan Duryea). But Anna isn't quite ready to give up her playtime with her former husband. When the two are nearly exposed by one of Slim's bodyguards, Steve plots against Slim by saying that the two are planning on an armored-truck robbery, one which results in a maelstrom of greedy, godless passion from which no one escapes.
THE TRANSFER: Universal has done a bare bones job of remastering "Criss Cross" for DVD. The gray scale is very well balanced with deep solid blacks and whites that are clean. There's a hint film grain and some age related artifacts. Also there's more than a hint of edge enhancement and pixelization that tends to distract from a visual presentation that, overall, is a considerable improvement over previously issued VHS tapes.
BOTTOM LINE: There are, unfortunately, no extras on this disc. Nevertheless, it is a good disc to add to your library of classic cinema.
Rating: 
Summary: Classic Noir thriller
Review: Take an unbelievably young and gorgeous Burt Lancaster and Yvonne DeCarlo, add late 1940's Los Angeles as a backdrop, and you have the formula for a great noir thriller. DeCarlo plays the ex-wife of Lancaster, and there is plenty of conflict with her new husband, master villain Dan Duryea. There are still plenty of sparks between the divorced couple, and the Los Angeles of the time period is practically another character in the film. Also, don't blink or you'll miss an extremely early appearance from the very young Tony Curtis.
Rating: 
Summary: A First Rate Film Noir!
Review: This is among one of my favorite film noirs. I really enjoyed all the characters in this film and I highly recommend it. Burt Lancaster plays a hard working, armored truck driver who is still holding a torch for his beautiful ex-wife played by Yvonne DeCarlo. DeCarlo is the object of obsession by both the ex-husband (Lancaster) and the gangster husband portrayed by Dan Duryea. The ex-lovers are caught together while Duryea is away and in order to protect themselves, Lancaster develops a full-proof plan to hold up an armor truck. What happens next...watch the film!Note: If you want to see old Los Angeles, this movie is filmed in and around Los Angeles and features City Hall, Union Station, and the Old Angels Flight.
Rating:
Summary: Lancaster in an OK Vehicle
Review: To this film's credit the B & W photography is great, as is, as
always, Miklos Rosza's score, and the story is good. That said, as a modern viewer one has to suspend an incredible amount of disbelief. Let's face it: Burt Lancaster is an icon. He is nobody's fool. In light of all the great work that Lancaster has done (From Here to Eternity, The Sweet Smell Of Success, Atlantic City,etc.) and the image of the strong leading man he attained we are supposed to accept him as a chump here. And this may sound ridiculous, but in my mind I could not accept Lancaster risking life and limb for Yvonne DeCarlo(a.k.a Lily Munster). I'm sure in the 40's the two were on equal footing, but hey, this is 2004.
Rating:
Summary: Potent film noir
Review: You may cosnider this film as an authentic elite of this genre.
Lancaster plays the role of a man who hasn't been capable to forget to his ex-wife (Ivonne De Carlo) . She is trying to remake her life and wants to marry with a villain .
This script will become progressive more intriguing till the climax is a shock for the viewer. Robert Siodmak was one of the key film makers all along these decads of creative and dramatic film noir. The essential clues are present here. The hopeless ; the happiness never smiles the guy ; the girl uses to fall in love with the mistaken man ; the long arm of the fate seems to dictate its own rules ; the sinister and dark shadows of the envy , the cruelty and the greed establishes a typified behavior ; the insatisfaction surrounds the couple , and many times it seems to touch the model citizen turning in a evil human being . There are bits of melodramatic concerns but it never becomes in the narrative nucleus.
Lancaster makes a convincing role nnd Curtis makes his screen debut.
If you are a hard fan about this genre. This is for you. There was a remake in 1995 titled Underneath : but you may ignore this last one. It doesn't keep the black and bitter atmosphere of Criss cross . Don't forget another trimph that Siodmak also directed The dark mirror (Olivia de Haviland).
Rating:
Summary: Joe Palooka and Slick Mobster done over by a dame
Review: Yvonne De Carlo (what a great name!) plays an eyeful in high heels with swishy hair and cup size C. She faces a choice that many of her less voluptuous sisters have had to face down the ages - do you plunk for true love with the boring mother's boy with lousy taste in jackets (played by Burt Lancaster) or do you run off with good time Charlie with in the double breasted gabardine tan suit, with dark shirt, nifty tie, two toned shoes and a grin that would make Mummy's toes curl? Answer - a girl has to get ahead in this lousy world so what is she to do but play two sides against the middle. Mr Lancaster as the schmuck is miscast and struggles with some saccharine dialogue and tight Bond singlets - let's face it, Burt is no schmuck from Palookaville and could quite easily give Slim (played by Mr Duryea) the what for with a bunch of fives and wipe that sleazy grin off his face. Miss De CArlo is great as a dishy sweet girl with a heart of ice and Mr Duryea is wonderful. The Cuban band is also a fabulous treat - one of the great bands I suspect - and we see that Mr Curtis can shake the bootie quite well to the music. Not one of the great film noir, but worth a look more for the bits, than the denoument where the three players get their comeuppance.
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