Once a Thief | |
Director: | W. Lee Wilder |
Screenplay: | Richard S. Conway |
Starring: | Cesar Romero June Havoc Marie McDonald Lon Chaney Jr. |
Music: | Michel Michelet |
Cinematography: | William H. Clothier |
Editing: | Asa Boyd Clark |
Studio: | W. Lee Wilder Productions |
Distributor: | United Artists |
Runtime: | 88 minutes |
Country: | United States |
Language: | English |
Once a Thief is a 1950 American crime film noir directed by W. Lee Wilder starring Cesar Romero, June Havoc, Marie McDonald and Lon Chaney Jr.
Margie Moore, a miserable San Francisco woman, turns in desperation to jewel robbery. She narrowly escapes apprehension in a heist and moves to Los Angeles, where she takes an honest job as a waitress. Her troubles resume when she falls in love with smooth-talking Mitch Foster, who reveals his true colors by stealing all of her money and then informing the authorities about her.
In prison with her partner-in-crime Pearl, Margie is visited by Mitch and waitress friend Flo. Mitch continues to try to extract money from her. Margie overpowers a doctor and slips away from prison disguised in the doctor's clothes. Law-enforcement authorities look for her at Mitch's and discover his illegal activities there. Mitch tries to escape, but Margie lures him to a deserted spot and shoots him.