Jack Palance

Jack Palance passed away this past week, and though he acted in many types of movies, film noir fans will remember his striking presence in several of the genre.

He was six feet four inches tall, but what really stood out was his starkly chiseled features combined with a smooth, soft voice. Always a great athlete, he actually was a successful professional boxer until World War II started and he joined the military. While training to fly a B-24 Liberator, he was in a bad accident, which disfigured his face. Luckily, this didn't stop him from going on to be a star, often playing menacing characters.

The following are some of the film noir classics which Jack Palance was in:

Panic in the Streets (1950) as Blackie, a plague infected killer.

Sudden Fear (1952) as Lester Blaine, a man who romances Myra (Joan Crawford) in the creepiest way possible.

Second Chance (1953) as Cappy Gordon, a mobster who threatens to kill a prize witness unless she gives in to his seduction and joins him.

The Big Knife (1955) as Charles Castle, a failing actor whose marriage is also tanking. Things go from bad to worse whena blackmailer comes after him.

I Died a Thousand Times (1955) as Roy Earle, a viscious killer who goes all soft on a crippled (Shelley Winters). This is a remake of High Sierra (1941).

House of Numbers (1957) as Arnie Judlow and Bill Judlow. Arnie is imprisoned at San Quentin for murder. He plots an escape plan with his brother and wife, but the plan goes awry when his two helpers start falling for each other.

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