THE WALKING TARGET

Ron Foster

THE WALKING TARGET (1960). Director: Edward L. Cahn. 

"Why would anyone want to live in a cemetery like this -- before they die?" -- Arnie

Nick Harbin (Ron Foster) is released from a five-year spell in prison after a robbery and everyone wants to know what he did with the money, all $260,000 of it. His old girlfriend, Susan (Merry Anders of Legacy of Blood), who has taken up with pal Dave (Robert Christopher), in the interim, is after the loot, as is the crook Arnie Hoffman (Berry Kroeger of Atlantis the Lost Continent), who is working with Dave. The cops would also like to find out where the money is, but Nick's plans are to give at least half of it to Gail (Joan Evans), the widow of the man, Nick's cohort, who was killed fleeing from police. But whatever Nick wants may take a back seat to what Arnie and his nasty buddies have in mind. 

Joan Evans and Ron Foster

The Walking Target is an acceptable if over-familiar crime thriller that features a charismatic lead performance from smooth and good-looking Ron Foster, a frequent player in director Cahn's "B" features. When Susan tells Dave that she is repulsed by Nick's advances, one has to assume she is lying to Dave, as few people would find Ron Foster exactly "repulsive." The other cast members are all on target, with Kroeger impressing with his usual oily and adept delivery. If there's any problem with the movie it's that it's surprisingly slow-paced at times, and it loses steam before a reasonably exciting climax in a diner. 

Verdict: Okay melodrama with a good lead performance and a game supporting cast. **1/2.