Hit and Run 1957 - as shown on Noir Alley TMC

Notes by Bill Russo Watch it on pay channel TMC on Eddie Muller's Noir Alley or view it here for free. From 1957, it's 'Hit and Run' starring Cleo Moore, Hugo Haas, and Vince Edwards. Directed by Hugo Haas. As an actor, director and producer he was one of the least appreciated moguls in Hollywood, but he knew the secrets of success. He rounded up some pretty good stories and decent actors and actresses and knocked out about a dozen B films in the 1950s. He financed and produced and directed his own films, usually on a budget of about $100,000 - at a time when the Hollywood establishment was spending on average, 1 and a half million bucks for each film produced. Hugo laughed all the way to the bank. This was the last of about 5 or 6 films Cleo Moore made for Haas. Vince Edwards went on to fame on the Ben Casey TV series. The guy who plays a doctor in this movie, John Zaremba, was cast as a hospital administrator on Ben Casey. One other little note, Dolores Reed who plays Miranda in Hit and Run, was dating the director Hugo Hass at the time she was cast. One more little note - something to look for - a song spot by Ella Mae Morse, one of the top pre-rockers of the 1940s. Her musical style mixed country, with jazz and blues - and long before Sinatra earned his first big hit, Ella had the first gold record for Capitol, Cow Cow Boogie in 1942. In 1943, her recording of Get on Board Little Children rocketed up the R&B charts making her one of the first white singers to crack into the Rhythm and Blues hit parade.