Robert Siodmak was one of the most influential stylists of the 40s, helping to create, in films such as Phantom Lady and The Killers, the characteristic look of American film noir. But most of his films have nothing more than their pictorial qualities to recommend them--Criss Cross being one of the few exceptions, an archly noir story replete with triple and quadruple crosses, leading up to one of the most shockingly cynical endings in the whole genre.

A film noir which has Lancaster (reprising his fall-guy role from Siodmak's earlier film The Killers) as Steve, brooding over his divorce from good-time girl Anna (De Carlo) and getting a job driving an armoured car. After finding out that his ex-wife is involved with gangster Slim Dundee (Duryea) he begins a clandestine affair with her, believing that they will be reunited once more. Obsessed with getting Anna back at any price, Steve makes plans for an armored car robbery that will include Slim. Anna and Steve plot to double-cross Slim over the takings, but as the title suggests ... A gem.

Excerpt from Channel 4 located HERE