The Lineup Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

Two highly disorganized hitmen and their grammar-loving boss try to retrieve hidden drugs, but a little girl’s doll-powdering hobby and an unfinished freeway make their job surprisingly complicated.

🍿 The Lineup: Detailed Plot Synopsis

The Accidental Unveiling of a Smuggling Ring

The film opens with a chaotic incident in San Francisco: a taxi driver, aided by a porter, steals a suitcase from an unsuspecting antiques collector. In a frantic escape, the driver hits a truck and fatally runs down a police officer, who manages to shoot the perp before dying. This dramatic opening sets the stage for a police investigation led by Lieutenant Ben Guthrie and Inspector Al Quine.

The Ruthless Retrieval Team Arrives

Further investigation reveals that a statuette within the stolen suitcase contains hidden heroin, exposing an illicit drug smuggling operation. The police discreetly replace the heroin with sugar before returning the luggage to its owner, Philip Dressler, who is initially considered an unwitting mule rather than a suspect. Meanwhile, to collect the remaining heroin shipments, the crime syndicate dispatches a trio of dangerous operatives to San Francisco.

Deadly Collections and a Critical Loss

This team includes Dancer (Eli Wallach), a volatile and psychopathic hitman, and his older, philosophical mentor, Julian (Robert Keith), who meticulously records his victims’ last words. Their local accomplice is Sandy McLain (Richard Jaeckel), an alcoholic driver. Their mission: to locate and retrieve heroin hidden in the luggage of unsuspecting overseas travelers who have unknowingly acted as drug mules.

The Desperate Pursuit and a Child’s Innocence

Dancer and Julian successfully retrieve the first two heroin consignments, with Dancer exhibiting his brutal nature by murdering those who complicate their mission, including a seaman who attempts blackmail and a houseboy resisting their intrusion. However, their final target proves problematic: a Japanese doll containing heroin, belonging to a young girl, Cindy, and her mother, Dorothy Bradshaw. Upon acquiring the doll, the criminals discover the heroin has vanished. It’s revealed that young Cindy innocently used the white powder as face make-up for her doll. This critical loss enrages Dancer, who threatens the mother and daughter, forcing Julian to intervene and convince him to take them hostage to explain the shortage to ‘The Man.’

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Dancer (Eli Wallach): A psychopathic and volatile hitman sent to San Francisco to ruthlessly retrieve hidden heroin shipments.
• Julian (Robert Keith): Dancer’s composed and unsettling mentor who attempts to rein in his partner’s violent impulses while morbidly collecting the last words of their victims.
• Lt. Ben Guthrie (Warner Anderson): A diligent San Francisco police lieutenant leading the investigation into the perplexing heroin smuggling and associated murders.
• Sandy McLain (Richard Jaeckel): The alcoholic local driver who serves as the nervous getaway man for the dangerous criminal duo of Dancer and Julian.
• The Man (Vaughn Taylor): The mysterious and ruthless wheelchair-bound kingpin who orchestrates the elaborate heroin smuggling operation.
• Dorothy Bradshaw (Mary LaRoche): A young mother who unknowingly transports hidden heroin in her daughter’s doll, inadvertently becoming a hostage to the desperate criminals.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Julian: “When you live outside the law, you have to eliminate dishonesty.” – Julian states his cold, pragmatic philosophy to Dancer, emphasizing the brutal logic required in their criminal world.
• The Man: “You’re dead.” – The kingpin delivers this chillingly blunt verdict to Dancer after he fails to deliver the full heroin consignment, sealing his fate.
• Julian: “It will all be over by…” – Julian frequently uses this phrase to calm the volatile Dancer, promising a quick resolution to their dangerous tasks despite escalating complications.
• Julian: “He’s a wonderful, pure pathological study.” – Julian describes Dancer to another character, highlighting his detached and analytical fascination with Dancer’s psychopathic nature.

💰Box Office

• Budget: N/A
• Domestic Gross: N/A
• Worldwide Gross: N/A

💥 The Lineup Reviews

Personal Review

Wow, ‘The Lineup’ was such a surprisingly intense watch! I went in expecting a standard police procedural, but Eli Wallach’s performance as Dancer completely blew me away. He’s just so terrifyingly unpredictable, and his dynamic with Robert Keith’s Julian is fascinating—a twisted mentor-protege relationship. The scene with the little girl and the doll made my jaw drop; it was so unsettling for a film from 1958! And that car chase at the end? Absolutely legendary. I was on the edge of my seat, especially knowing they really pulled off that stunt on the unfinished freeway. It’s a really dark, gripping film that definitely stands the test of time, proving Siegel was a master even before ‘Dirty Harry’.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of classic film noir”
  • “Viewers who appreciate Don Siegel’s crime thrillers (e.g., ‘Dirty Harry’)”
  • “Those interested in realistic police procedurals”
  • “Audiences who enjoy psychological character studies of villains”
  • “Anyone fascinated by historical San Francisco locations”
  • “Fans of intense, gritty crime dramas”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Strong violence and disturbing depictions of murder”
  • “Psychopathic and sociopathic characters”
  • “Drug trafficking and addiction themes”
  • “Child in peril/hostage situation”
  • “Intense, suspenseful sequences”

Professional Reviews

• Film Noir Central: “Don Siegel’s ‘The Lineup’ is a masterclass in tension, expertly blending gritty police procedural with a chilling study of psychopathic behavior. Eli Wallach delivers an electrifying performance as Dancer, a character who crackles with unpredictable menace. The film’s use of real San Francisco locations adds an authentic, unromantic backdrop, culminating in an unforgettable car chase. It’s a brisk, brutal, and thoroughly engrossing thriller that punches well above its weight.
• Classic Thrills: “Forget shadows and rain, ‘The Lineup’ proves noir can thrive in broad daylight. Eli Wallach and Robert Keith form a captivating, unsettling duo as they hunt for hidden heroin. The film is relentless, with shocking moments that push the boundaries for its era, particularly the intense third act. Siegel’s direction is taut, making every scene count, while the authentic San Francisco locales are a character in themselves. A truly underrated gem.

Audience Reactions

Eli Wallach’s chilling performance as the unpredictable killer Dancer truly stood out.: Viewers consistently praised the film’s gritty realism, exceptional use of San Francisco locations, and the remarkably brutal and impactful action sequences, especially the climactic car chase and shocking murders.

The dynamic between Dancer and Julian, the mentor and his psychopathic protégé, captivated many.: Many found the film to be a tightly directed, fast-paced thriller that defied typical 1950s cinema expectations, feeling ahead of its time in its portrayal of violence and complex villains.

Overall Consensus: The Lineup is a highly praised, underrated crime thriller, celebrated for its gripping narrative, groundbreaking violence, exceptional location cinematography, and standout performances by Eli Wallach and Robert Keith.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “The film was shot entirely on location in San Francisco, which was unusual for its time, providing a gritty authenticity and showcasing many iconic, now-lost, or significantly altered city landmarks like Sutro Baths and the original Embarcadero Freeway.”
• “The famous climactic car chase, which concludes with the car stopping inches from a 100-foot drop on the unfinished Embarcadero Freeway, was performed by stunt driver Guy Way. Unbeknownst to his wife, who was in the car with him, Way was instructed to accelerate to top speed before braking, leaving her traumatized by the stunt.”
• “Though based on a popular CBS TV series of the same name, director Don Siegel intentionally shifted the film’s focus from the police procedural aspects to a darker, more in-depth psychological study of the criminals, departing from the typical ‘Dragnet’-style format.”

🖥️ How to Watch The Lineup?

As of late 2023, ‘The Lineup’ is not widely available on major streaming platforms for subscription viewing, reflecting its status as a classic from 1958. While some older reviews note its previous absence from DVD, it has since been released, often as part of classic film noir collections. For purchase or rental, viewers may find it available on platforms like Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, or Google Play, depending on regional licensing. Check specific digital storefronts for current availability, as options may vary. Physical copies can also be found through specialty retailers focusing on classic cinema.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed The Lineup, you might like these similar films:

• Bullitt (1968): For its iconic San Francisco setting, pioneering car chase sequences, and strong police procedural elements, which ‘The Lineup’ foreshadowed with its on-location shooting and gritty realism.
• Wait Until Dark (1967): Shares a unique plot device where dangerous criminals hunt an innocent person because valuable narcotics are unknowingly hidden in a doll, leading to intense psychological suspense.
• The Killing (1956): A quintessential film noir from the same era, known for its tight plotting, meticulous detail of a heist gone wrong, and a cast of memorable, desperate characters.
• The Departed (2006): A modern, gritty crime thriller that similarly explores the blurred lines between law enforcement and the criminal underworld, featuring complex characters and high-stakes tension.
• Kiss of Death (1947): Features one of cinema’s earliest and most shocking acts of villainous brutality (Richard Widmark pushing a woman in a wheelchair), akin to the unsettling violence displayed by Eli Wallach’s character in ‘The Lineup’.

🛒 The Lineup Related Products

• The Lineup (Columbia Pictures Film Noir Classics): Experience this forgotten gem in stunning high definition. Includes bonus features like an exclusive director’s commentary and a featurette on the making of the film’s iconic car chase.
• San Francisco Noir: A Map of Filming Locations: Explore the real-life San Francisco locations featured in ‘The Lineup’ and other classic noir films. This detailed map and guide provides historical context and behind-the-scenes facts for cinematic tours.
• Vintage San Francisco 1950s Skyline Poster: A high-quality, large-format print of the iconic San Francisco skyline from the 1950s, capturing the city as seen in ‘The Lineup’, including landmarks like the Ferry Building and the then-under-construction Embarcadero Freeway.
• Classic Crime & Mystery Film Collection (50s Edition): A curated digital collection of classic crime and mystery films from the 1950s, similar in tone and style to ‘The Lineup’, providing hours of suspenseful entertainment.

🎧 Soundtrack

The Lineup features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Polly Wolly Doodle” – performed by Traditional

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

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