John Payne and Colleen Gray star in “Kansas City Confidential”

Kansas City Confidential (1952) is an American film noir directed by Phil Karlson and starring John Payne, Coleen Gray, and Preston Foster.

A ruthless ex-cop named Mr. Big (Foster) is planning an armored car heist. Part of the plan is to use a florist delivery truck, similar to the one real-life delivery man Joe Rolfe (Payne) drives.

The robbery goes as planned, and Rolfe is arrested instead of the robbers. The police are convinced that he is the mastermind of the heist and try to beat a confession out of him.

Rolfe is eventually released when his alibi checks out and the real robbery vehicle is found. However, the damage has been done. Rolfe loses his job and reputation and is determined to fight to get it back.

Phil Karlson (1908 – 1982) was a Chicago-born and raised American film director specializing in B pictures at various studios. Karlson was the original choice to direct Dr. No (1962), but his salary requirements were too high. He made a series of successful films noir with actor John Payne in the 1950s. He directed Elvis Presley in Kid Galahad (1962), one of the biggest box office successes of that year. Later in his career, he directed Dean Martin in two films in the Matt Helm series, The Silencers (1966) and The Wrecking Crew (1968). He had a huge success in 1973 with Walking Tall. Its success made him a very rich man since he owned a percentage of the film. Other films directed by Karslon include Hornet’s Nest (1970) starring Rock Hudson, and Ben (1972).

John Payne (1912 – 1989) was an American film actor. He made his film debut in Dodsworth (1936). He had roles are various studios but found stardom at 20^th Century-Fox. At Fox, he had major roles in Tin Pan Ally (1940), Sun Valley Serenade (1941), The Dolly Sisters (1945), The Razor’s Edge (1946), and perhaps his most famous role as Fred Gayley in Miracle on 34^th Street (1947). Payne wasn’t happy with the roles he was being offered at Fox, so he broke his contract, which had four more years to go. As an independent freelance actor, Payne then specialized in westerns and films noir. During this period, he starred in Kansas City Confidential (1952), 99 River Street (1953), and Santa Fe Passage (1955). From 1957 to 1959, he starred as Vint Bonner in the western TV series The Restless Gun. Payne’s final role was in an episode of Columbo in 1975.

Colleen Gray (1922 – 2015) was an American actress who was under contract to 20th Century-Fox in the 1940s. She was in the film noir, Kiss of Death (1947) with Victor Mature and Richard Widmark. She also had a role in Red River (1948) with John Wayne. In the 1950s, she started working in television, guest-starring in many popular shows of that period.

John Payne and Coleen Gray

Kansas City Confidential trivia

• John Payne broke some of Jack Elam’s ribs in a fight scene.
• Quentin Tarantino said that Reservoir Dogs was inspired by this film.
• The $1.2 million stolen from the bank is the equivalent of $12 million today.
• Coleen Gray and John Payne became romantically involved during the filming.
• None of the film was shot in Kansas City. All shots of Kansas City are stock footage.

 

Click HERE to watch the movie on YouTube.

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Discussion questions

1. As caper movies go, where do you think it ranks?
2. Director Quentin Tarantino said this film inspired Reservoir Dogs. Did this film remind you of any other caper films you’ve seen?
3. Do you think the heist was believable?
4. Did the budding romance between Rolfe and Helen add or detract from the film?