Sterling Hayden And
Film Noir

Sterling Hayden was one big, bold hunk of man at 6'5". Before his acting days, Hayden was a sea captain, working up from the ranks, and he sailed around the world several times. He acted in movies mainly to finance his sailing passion.

He was also active in the Marines under an assumed name. He later had trouble with the House Un-American Activities Committee for his association with Yugoslav communists.

He wrote an autobiography called Wanderer that is supposed to be very good.

Hayden not only acted in westerns, but also in film noir. Below are listed five that he appeared in.

Manhandled (1949)
This is a relatively small part for Sterling Hayden, who plays Joe Cooper, an insurance investigator in a case where a wife is found murdered and her husband is the main suspect. Joe always seems to be one step ahead of the detective, but more interested in the missing jewels than in the murderer. Dan Duryea and Hedi Lamarr also star.

The Asphalt Jungle (1950)
He plays Dix Handley, a tough hooligan hired to help with a big bank heist. He has a strange and sweet symbiotic relationship with Doll (Jean Hagen). He also has a soft spot for horses and horse racing. This touching portrayal of a man is just a small part of this hard boiled noir directed by John Huston.
"The Asphalt Jungle" VIDEO ON DEMAND
"The Asphalt Jungle" on DVD

Crime Wave (1954)
Sterling Hayden plays toothpick chewing Detective Sergeant Sims, who relentlessly goes after an ex con whom he wrongly believes committed armed robbery.
"Crime Wave " on DVD

Suddenly (1954)
Hayden plays Tod Shaw, a policeman in the small town where 3 assassins plot to kill the President. Shaw is held hostage along with a family, while the assassins await their opportunity. Frank Sinatra plays the sadistic ringleader.
"Suddenly!" VIDEO ON DEMAND
"Suddenly" on DVD

The Come On (1956)
A macho fisherman (Hayden) gets thoroughly emotionally thrashed by a flirty, married, scheming woman (Anne Baxter). Best line by Hayden: (disdainful) "Women like you belong to nobody. And everybody." Then he grabs and kisses her. Second favorite line, but I forget who delivered it, probably the evil con artist husband: (with sinister relish) "There's plenty of careless money at Balboa Island..."

The Killing (1956)
Hayden plays Johnny Clay in this Stanley Kubrick classic. Johnny is an ex con who is the ring leader in an attempt to rob a race track with several others. Of course, it all goes bad and Clay's plan unravels despite all his efforts.
"The Killing" VIDEO ON DEMAND
"The Killing" on DVD

Crime Of Passion (1957)
In this film, Hayden plays Detective Bill Doyle, lovesick husband of Kathy Ferguson, played by Barbara Stanwyck. She's bored with the whole suburban housewife thing and drums up ways to advance her new husbands career, unbeknownst to him. Her elaborate methods are, to say the least, dubious, and later, deadly. Poor Bill is the one who must turn his own wife in.
"Crime of Passion" on DVD

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