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Thursday, July 16, 2020

YOU HAVE TO RUN FAST

Elaine Edwards and Craig Hill
YOU HAVE TO RUN FAST (1961). Director: Edward L. Cahn.

 Roger Condon (Craig Hill), a young doctor, has to treat a dirty cop who was beaten by thugs who work for mob boss Jim Craven (Grant Richards). When the crooked cop dies, the police want to put Condon in protective custody, but he wants to stay in charge of his life. Therefore he runs off to become a sporting goods salesman -- rechristened Frank Harlow -- in a small hunting community. Meanwhile Craven and his men go on the hunt for Condon, hoping to eliminate him as a witness. The doc stays in an inn owned and run by Colonel Maitland (Willis Bouchey) and his daughter Laurie (Elaine Edwards).  

Craig Hill and Jack Mann as Lt. Carbo
The first problem with this poorly scripted movie is that the lead character is an asshole. He expresses not the slightest remorse nor regret after a cop who was assigned to protect him -- after he's refused to go to a hotel -- is gunned down (but then the lead detective doesn't seem especially bothered by this, either). His idea of "living his life" is shaving his mustache, getting contacts, and completely giving up his hard-earned career as a doctor -- say what? Laurie comes off like a hopeless she-geek -- she is so desperate to have a relationship with Condon that for a birthday present she actually gives him a picture of herself! (Talk about pushy!) Fortunately for her, Condon is equally interested in Laurie. 

 As the excitement doesn't mount, Craven shows up in town with two more thugs, leading Condon to run off once more, and a gun battle develops with the old Colonel and his rifle playing a large part. You Have to Run Fast comes off like a barely-produced and padded television episode and it resists interesting developments at every turn. Craig Hill was a handsome "B" actor who went to Europe to make features. He finally got married at age 64 after having hot flings with Rock Hudson and, reportedly, Marlene Dietrich, among others. His early romantic life might have made a more interesting movie than this stinky picture. Director Cahn keeps things moving but to no avail with this bad a story. 

 Verdict: Run fast from this movie. *1/2. 
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2 comments:

  1. angelman66July 18, 2020 at 11:58 AM

    But Craig Hill was such a hunk! I first read of him in a memoir that one of Judy Garland’s boyfriends wrote, Under the Rainbow. John Carlyle was one of agent Henry Willson’s boys and fell in love with Hill who was also under Willson’s management along with Robert Osborne of TCM fame. Carlyle had an on and off affair w Garland—good book if you haven’t read it!
    - C

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  2. WilliamJuly 18, 2020 at 2:28 PM

    Yes, I've read Carlyle's book and posted a review many years ago.I have to take his relationship with Garland with a grain of salt, like most of her relationships with her basically gay boyfriends and husbands, LOL! Hill was a handsome guy who certainly spread himself around -- and why not?

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