Nobody Lives Forever (1946)

I am only giving this movie a 1 for the great cast, though I can't imagine what any of them were thinking. This movie was horrible

Very good movie overall, highly recommended. Most of the negative reviews don't have any merit and are all pollitically based. Give this movie a chance at least, and it might give you a different perspective.

The movie really just wants to entertain people.

Worth seeing just to witness how winsome it is.

Ex-army John Garfield returns to his home town of New York to pick up with his girlfriend Faye Emerson (Toni) and the $50,000 he left with her to look after. Uh-oh, she's no longer his girlfriend and tells him that she's blown his money away in a poor nightclub business venture. She seems to be doing alright now, though, with her new partner nightclub owner Robert Shayne (Chet). Garfield wants his $50K back and negotiates this in his own way before heading to LA with buddy George Tobias (Al). It is here that he is persuaded by a gang headed by George Coulouris (Doc) to get involved in a scam to marry wealthy widower Geraldine Fitzgerald (Gladys) and fleece her of $2 million and share the spoils. He only goes and actually falls in love with her – scuppering all plans and putting himself in danger.The film starts well enough but tails off and becomes boring, especially towards the end. There is not really any suspense or anything particularly that stands out towards the end of the film and everything ends predictably. Far more should have been made of the Faye Emerson character and Garfield doesn't cut it as a tough guy. He's small in stature and would get a hammering in a fight between himself and any other cast member so it's quite an unconvincing portrayal due to a casting misfire. He is no hard man. He's more like a pipsqueak in the Elisha Cook Jr mold.The film is OK but what is of more interest is Faye Emerson's character of Toni Blackburn. Who would have thought that years later she would get a sex-change and actually change her name to Tony Blackburn and become a British DJ on Radio One.

Somewhat Underrated Film-Noir, a Solid Entry, but Not as Cynical or Downbeat as the Best of Pure Noir, but contains a goodly amount of Bad Behavior and Shady Characters.John Garfield Leads an Outstanding WB Cast with Walter Brennan showing an enormous Range here as an Intelligent, Loyal, Friend of Con-Man Garfield. The Females are in direct Contrast to each other. Faye Emerson as the Unfaithful and Evil Toni, is Nasty and Unfeeling. Geraldine Fitzgerald as the "Mark", a Widowed Millionaire, Naive, Saintly, and as Warm and Cuddly as a Puppy.The Strong Script from W.B. Burnett has some Gripping Wordplay with Gangster Grit. "You bring out a gun and I'm going to make you eat it.", Garfield tells George Coulouris as a Sunken Eyed and Bitter Crook on the Skids. He looks like and Acts like a Drug Addict. Maybe that's why His Nickname is Doc.An almost Spiritual Scene in an Old Mission where Garfield has His Epiphany is Outstanding and Profound. There's Plenty of Mood and Shadowy and Sleazy Sets Populated with Low-Brow, Low-Income Regular Folks and Dregs. The Ending may be Elongated a bit but adds a Damp, Dock-Side Atmosphere to the Conclusion.Overall, an Overlooked Film that is Rich and Rewarding for Fans of Film-Noir, Garfield, WB Gangster Movies, and Anyone Interested in the Post-War Milieu.

Of all the Hollywood writers now associated with classic film noir --among them James M. Cain, Raymond Chandler & Dashell Hammett— the least known and perhaps least appreciated is W.R. Burnett who was responsible for the story and often the screenplay of a number of film crime classics, among them the films Scarface, Little Caesar, High Sierra and Asphalt Jungle. Burnett's dialog is as sharp and tough as the others, and he often displays a finer insight and even greater sympathy for the criminal mind than the others whose stories feature and sometimes romanticize the hard-boiled detective. This excellently directed and photographed film tells the story of a charming con-man, perfectly played by John Garfield, who falls for the widow he is trying to cheat. The petty crooks who people his world played by a superb cast of character actors (George Coulouris, Walter Brennan, George Tobias) are all clearly drawn and don't resemble the usual cliché gang members of other films. Burnett obviously knew this world better than his colleagues.

This is certainly not one of John Garfield's more famous films and it's very possible you have never heard of it or seen it. It is about a con man who finds a rich woman who he intends to swindle. And, due to his smooth and effortless way of lying and ingratiating himself, she soon falls head over heels for the rat! However, despite his supposed heart of stone, he finds that he really does care for the woman and can't bring himself to hurt her. This is a serious problem, as Garfield's cohorts are definitely NOT nice people and he knows they will kill him if he double-crosses them.This film is a satisfying mix of romance and film noir that deserves a chance.