Dilemma
Dilemma
This is a short and typical gangster-film noir, a double cross a la Jim Thompson. It's fairly simple, direct, and features some so-so acting from an ensemble cast of nobodies. The following are a few of the shots involved... Opens with an ECU of black water and thin white swirls moving in cautious circles, fade in title. Cut to a MS of a man in a suit, a gun in his hand, lying dead on a street while the narrator unfolds his story. Note, the narration is executed in faux- newsreel noir fashion. Cut to a MS of a wormy looking gangster sitting on a couch in a dark office; he lights a cigarette just as the camera pans right to a TV screen, then to another gangster sitting on an adjacent couch. Meanwhile the narrator introduces each fella by name, describing their job in the gangster family, their faults, their MO, etc. This happens a few more times; there are about six or seven gangsters in the room, reading casually, drinking casually, smoking casually, standing casually, being cool... casually. Cut to a MS of the gangster boss, a ringer for a prettier Edward G. Robinson, sitting at a desk and smoking a cigarette. He grills the boys, asking them who fingered Mugs Moran. Of course, no one fesses up. Cut to CU's of the stony henchmen, panning and cutting. CU of the wormy gangster, named Welch. The boss grills him. He gets paranoid that everyone thinks he did it but he didn't. The boss grills someone else but the camera stays on Welch who starts having a hammy inner monologue. Tight LS and MS of Welch walking into a dark alley. He lights a smoke and has an even worse inner monologue. He goes home and acts annoyingly nervous. MS of a phone and a lamp on a nightstand. Welch answers the phone. The boss knows who did it and he's on his way over. Welch thinks he's going to be "murdered" so he squeals to the police but before he can give his name the boss and henchman Henry enter the motel room. Boss reveals it was Henry and shoots him dead, then tells Welch to dump the body and the murder weapon, exits. MS of the body and weapon, Welch kneeling down, picks up gun. The police, in plainclothes, enter with their guns drawn. They handcuff Welch for murder.