I was walking the streets last night. I started in the midst of the city before hitting the side of the Belvedere, after which I traversed a stretch of the waterfront under the freeway. There is something about the river, especially at night – and especially this particular stretch, which is dirty and littered, and garbage floats in the water, lapping against the concrete. Any number of dark deeds could have happened, had there been a fog and a smoky saxophone solo.

Last week was the advent of February Film Noir Wednesdays at the Dreamland Film Center, and it continues tomorrow with another double feature. It starts with the 1948 film They Live By Night by director Nicholas Ray (Rebel Without a Cause). It tells the story of Bowie (Farley Granger), a man unfairly convicted of murder, who escapes from prison and plans to rob a bank to get enough money to hire a lawyer to prove his innocence. Then he meets Keechie (Cathy O'Donnell) and settles down to an honest life – until his former fellow bank robbers return to compel him to do one last job. The Live By Night screens at 7:00.

This is followed at 9:00 by Gun Crazy, directed by Joesph Lewis and written by Dalton Trumbo (author of the excellent and chilling novel Johnny Got His Gun). John Dall and Peggy Cummins star as a husband-and-wife team of crack shots and robbers. As Annie convinces Bart to go on an interstate robbery spree, he witnesses the true depth of her depravity.

The Dreamland Film Center is located at 810 E. Market Street. Admission is $8 per film, or $10 for the double feature. Louisville Film Society members attend for free. Complete information can be found at the LFS website.

Image: Internet Movie Database