I Died a Thousand Times main backdrop
I Died a Thousand Times main poster

I Died a Thousand Times

Visit website

6.1/10 • 27

1955-11-091h 49m

CrimeThriller

The Story Behind The Terrifying 60-Day Hunt For Desperado 'Mad-Dog' Earle!

After aging criminal Roy Earle is released from prison he decides to pull one last heist before retiring — by robbing a resort hotel.

Directors
Stuart Heisler
Editors
Clarence Kolster

Top Billed Cast

View Credits
  1. Jack Palance

    Jack Palance

    Roy Earle / Roy Collins

  2. Shelley Winters

    Shelley Winters

    Marie Garson

  3. Lori Nelson

    Lori Nelson

    Velma

  4. Lee Marvin

    Lee Marvin

    Babe Kossuck

  5. Pedro Gonzalez Gonzalez

    Pedro Gonzalez Gonzalez

    Chico

  6. Lon Chaney Jr.

    Lon Chaney Jr.

    Big Mac

  7. Earl Holliman

    Earl Holliman

    Red

  8. Perry Lopez

    Perry Lopez

    Louis Mendoza

  9. Richard Davalos

    Richard Davalos

    Lon Preisser

Reviews1

View Reviews
John Chard Avatar

John Chard

Mar 16, 2019

7.5/10

Famed Bandit, Former No 1 On FBI List, Pardoned After Eight Years. I Died a Thousand Times is directed by Stuart Heisler and adapted to screenplay by W.R. Burnett from his own novel High Sierrra. It stars Jack Palance, Shelley Winters, Lori Nelson, Lee Marvin, Pedro Gonzalez Gonzalez, Lon Chaney Junior and Earl Holliman. A CinemaScope/Warnercolor production, cinematography is by Ted McCord and music by David Buttolph. It will always be debatable if remaking the excellent High Sierra (Raoul Walsh 1941) was needed or wanted by a 1950s audience? Especially since Walsh had himself already remade it as a great Western with 1949 film Colorado Territory, but taken on its own terms, with great production value and Burnett's personal adaptation taken into consideration, it's a very enjoyable film. Set up is simple, it's one last heist for Roy "Mad Dog" Earle (Palance) before going straight, but as his attempts to break free from his emotional loner status fall apart, so does the heist and his future is written in blood right up there in the mountains. Heisler and Burnett put Earle up front for character inspection, easing in sympathetic tones whilst ensuring he remains a big physical threat. The air of fatalism is pungent enough and the finale is excitingly staged by Heisler. Cast performances are more than adequate if not comparing to the likes of Bogart and Lupino, while the Warnercolor is gorgeous and the photography around the Alabama Hills in Lone Pine is superb. While not in the same league as High Sierra or Colorado Territory, that doesn't mean this is a wash out, more so if you haven't seen either of the Walsh movies. If you have, like me (High Sierra is one of my favourite Bogart performances), then comparisons and a feeling of deja vu will obviously infiltrate your viewing experience. That said, there is more than enough here to make it worth your time regardless of comparison and familiarities. 7/10

Media

  • I Died a Thousand Times poster
  • I Died a Thousand Times poster
  • I Died a Thousand Times poster

Recommendations

  • Cult of the Cobra main backdrop

    Cult of the Cobra

    6.0

  • No Backdrop

    Aavas

    9.7

  • No Backdrop

    Night Beast

    4.0

  • Boston Strangler The Untold Story main backdrop

    Boston Strangler The Untold Story

    3.7

  • Mouse Into Space main backdrop

    Mouse Into Space

    5.4

  • Underground Entertainment: The Movie main backdrop

    Underground Entertainment: The Movie

    7.2

  • Hollywood Man main backdrop

    Hollywood Man

    4.7

  • No Backdrop

    Living Things

    4.5

  • Prelude main backdrop

    Prelude

    6.0

  • Thi Baan The Series: Moh Pla Wan main backdrop

    Thi Baan The Series: Moh Pla Wan

    8.0

  • Cyril contre Goliath main backdrop

    Cyril contre Goliath

    7.5

  • Thanasis in the land of the cuff main backdrop

    Thanasis in the land of the cuff

    6.0

  • No Backdrop

    A Cranberry Christmas

    4.0

  • Opa wird Papa main backdrop

    Opa wird Papa

    4.0

  • No Backdrop

    La barranca de la muerte

    5.0

  • No Backdrop

    Drums of Fire

    6.5

Status
Released
Original Language
English
Budget
--
Revenue
--
Keywords
film noiron the rundogattempted robbery