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MARC LAWRENCE
AND FILM NOIR


Actor Marc Lawrence made a significant impact on the genre of film noir through his memorable performances and his ability to portray menacing and gritty characters. His distinctive voice, sharp features, and intense acting style made him a perfect fit for the dark and atmospheric world of film noir.

Lawrence often played roles such as henchmen, mobsters, and hardened criminals, bringing an air of menace and danger to the screen. His presence in film noir added an extra layer of tension and suspense to the stories, as his characters often served as formidable adversaries for the protagonists.

One of Lawrence's most notable film noir appearances was in "The Asphalt Jungle" (1950), directed by John Huston. In the film, Lawrence played Cobby, a small-time crook who becomes involved in a heist. His portrayal of the nervous and desperate character added depth and complexity to the overall narrative.

Lawrence's performances in other film noirs such as "Key Largo" (1948) also showcased his ability to embody the gritty and morally ambiguous world of the genre. He often brought a sense of authenticity to his roles, capturing the essence of the hardened criminals and corrupt figures that populate film noir narratives.

Overall, Marc Lawrence's contributions to film noir helped to define the genre and contribute to its enduring popularity. His memorable performances and his ability to bring a sense of danger and unease to the screen made him a standout actor in the realm of film noir.

AVAILABLE FILMS:


ASPHALT JUNGLE, THE (1950)
BLACK HAND (1950)
BLACKWELL'S ISLAND (1939)
BLIND ALLEY (1939)
CHARLIE CHAN AT THE WAX MUSEUM (1940)
CHARLIE CHAN IN HONOLULU (1938)
CLOAK AND DAGGER (1946)
COUNSEL FOR CRIME (1937)
DEATH ON THE DIAMOND (1934)
DILLINGER (1945)
DUST BE MY DESTINY (1939)
EYES OF THE UNDERWORLD (1942)
G-MEN (1935)
GOLDEN FLEECING, THE (1940)
I PROMISE TO PAY (1937)
IF I HAD A MILLION (1932)
I WALK ALONE (1948)
INSIDE JOB (1946)
INVISIBLE STRIPES (1939)
JOHNNY APOLLO (1940)
JOHNNY COOL (1963)
KEY LARGO (1948)
KILL HER GENTLY (1958)
LADY SCARFACE (1941)
LONE WOLF SPY HUNT, THE (1939)
MAN WHO LOST HIMSELF, THE (1941)
MAN WHO TALKED TOO MUCH, THE (1940)
MY FAVORITE SPY (1942)
NAZI AGENT (1942)
OX-BOW INCIDENT, THE (1943)
SAN QUENTIN (1937)
STRAIGHT IS THE WAY (1934)
TAMPICO (1944)
THIS GUN FOR HIRE (1942)
WHAT PRICE VENGEANCE (1937)
WHO KILLED GAIL PRESTON? (1938)

VIDEO TRIBUTE


Marc Lawrence


Marc Lawrence
Marc Lawrence (1910-2005) was an American character actor known for his work in film and television. Born on February 17, 1910, in New York City, Lawrence began his acting career in the 1930s and went on to have a prolific career spanning several decades.
Lawrence often portrayed tough and menacing characters, typically in crime films and film noir. He was known for his distinctive voice, sharp features, and intense performances. Some of his notable film appearances include "Key Largo" (1948), "The Asphalt Jungle" (1950), "The Big Heat" (1953), and "Dillinger" (1973).
Throughout his career, Lawrence worked with renowned directors such as John Huston, Howard Hawks, and Fritz Lang. He also made numerous appearances on television, including shows like "The Twilight Zone," "Perry Mason," and "Bonanza."
In addition to his acting work, Lawrence also wrote two autobiographical books: "Long Time No See: Confessions of a Hollywood Gangster" (1991) and "Smuggler's Blues: The Saga of a Marijuana Importer" (2004).
Marc Lawrence passed away on November 28, 2005, at the age of 95, leaving behind a legacy as a respected character actor in the industry.

Quotes:

[regarding his short-term membership in the Communist party in the 1930s] "I went to about five or six meetings. When I got bored at home I'd go to a meeting."

"I had this effect on people. I remember walking along the street and seeing Eddie Cantor's name up on one of the theaters, so I stopped by the ticket seller and asked him, 'When does Eddie go on?' He looked at me and went pale and said, 'You-you-you-you're the guy in that picture up the street!' He was petrified of me. So I went and watched that movie again and thought to myself 'Christ Almighty, what an ugly [expletive]!' Holes in my face, black eyes that pierce right through you. Here I thought I looked like Ronald Colman and the ticket seller was right."

"I was typed as the arch gangster. It's this face -- what could I do about it?"

"The time I met Lucky Luciano in Italy, I swear to God, I thought he was imitating me."


- Marc Lawrence 


Trivia:

Columbia Pictures chief Harry Cohn once told Lawrence that Johnny Roselli, a notorious gangster, had said that he was the best hood in films. Lawrence himself was often told by Italian hoods in his native New York that he played them better than anyone else; ironically, Lawrence was Jewish.

He was a friend of legendary mob boss Lucky Luciano. He would visit Luciano in Italy where the mobster had been deported following his prison term for running a prostitution ring. Whenever Lawrence would see the mobster, Lucky would always ask for him to talk in an "exaggerated" New York accent, which Lawrence would do. The reason was that Luciano missed New York and meeting New Yorkers and hearing their accents would always make him feel better.

During the House Un-American Activities Committee hearings, Lawrence testified that Lionel Stander told him that joining the Communist Party would make him more attractive to women. During his testimony, Stander denounced Lawrence as a psychopath and presented a letter that gave Lawrence's mental history and revealed that he had been hospitalized after a mental breakdown just prior to his HUAC testimony.
Explore the simpler time of yesteryear... 
A time when men and women were truly glamorous. A time when you could watch any movie with your children and not have to worry about gratuitous sex or violence – yet enjoy all the lustful inferences and edge-of-your-seat suspense.
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*** new features ***

Film Noir: The Men
Meet the hard-boiled detectives, cynical antiheroes, and ruthless villains
Film Noir: The Women
Meet Hard-Boiled Women, good girls gone bad, and femme fatales
Film Noir: The Directors
Meet the master storytellers who weave their ill-fated tales in an unforgiving dark, shadowy world.

Picture
Meet The Women who pushed the boundaries of moral, social, and artistic conventions... 
Part I
Part II