Man in the Vault

Man in the Vault is a 1956 film noir about a locksmith, played by William Campbell, who is forced to help gangsters commit a robbery. The screenplay by Burt Kennedy was based on the novel The Lock and the Key by Frank Gruber. The film was the directorial debut of Andrew V. McLaglen.

Man in the Vault
Film poster
Directed byAndrew V. McLaglen
Produced byRobert E. Morrison
John Wayne (uncredited)
Screenplay byBurt Kennedy
Based onnovel The Lock and the Key
by Frank Gruber
StarringWilliam Campbell
Karen Sharpe
Anita Ekberg
Music byHenry Vars
CinematographyWilliam H. Clothier
Production
company
Distributed byRKO Radio Pictures
(theatrical)
Paramount Pictures
(current)
Paramount Home Entertainment
(DVD)
Release date
  • December 21, 1956 (1956-12-21) (US)[1]
Running time
73 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Plot

The criminal Willis Trent wants to rob the safety deposit box of a crooked Los Angeles businessman, Paul De Camp. He has lawyer Earl Farraday smooth-talk the guy's girlfriend, the two-timing Flo Randall, into revealing the bank box's number.

Now they need a locksmith. A henchman called Herbie is sent to find one. He settles on Tommy Dancer, who works in a bowling alley. Tommy is quickly smitten with Earl's girl Betty Turner but is a law-abiding citizen and rejects an offer of $5,000.

Tommy falls for Betty, taking her to the Hollywood Bowl and learning she comes from a wealthy family. Tommy's attentions to her get him a beating from Louie, another big thug. He is told Betty's face will be disfigured if he refuses to cooperate.

Breaking into the box is no problem, but Tommy thinks he's been double-crossed by Betty and decides to keep the $200,000. He stashes the cash in a locker at the bowling alley. Flo confesses her part in the scheme to De Camp, who goes after Tommy, even hurling bowling balls at him before the cops show up.

Tommy races to save Betty, realizing she's on the level. Trent ends up dead, and Tommy's future is a lock.

Cast

References
  1. "Man in the Vault: Detail View". American Film Institute. Retrieved June 2, 2014.
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