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Release dateOctober 10, 1949 (1949-10-10) (United States) Based onthe novel Thieves Market
by A. I. Bezzerides WriterA.I. Bezzerides (screenplay), A.I. Bezzerides (novel) Initial releaseSeptember 20, 1949 (Los Angeles) Music directorAlfred Newman, Cyril J. Mockridge CastRichard Conte (Nick Garcos), Valentina Cortese (Rica), Lee J. Cobb (Mike Figlia), Barbara Lawrence (Polly Faber), Jack Oakie (Slob), Millard Mitchell (Ed Kinney) Similar moviesHell Drivers, The Asphalt Jungle, Out of the Past, Double Indemnity, Detour, The Postman Always Rings Twice TaglineYou Need a Friend, Strong Man, - And I'm Friendly!
Thieves highway 1949 buying apples
Thieves' Highway is a 1949 film noir directed by Jules Dassin. The screenplay was written by A. I. Bezzerides, based on his novel Thieves' Market.
A war-veteran-turned-truck driver Nico "Nick" Garcos (Richard Conte) arrives at home to find that his foreign-born father, a fruit farmer, has lost his legs and was forced to sell his truck. He learns that his father was crippled at the hands of an unscrupulous produce dealer in San Francisco, Mike Figlia (Lee J. Cobb). Garcos vows revenge.
Garcos goes into business with Ed Kinney, who bought the Garcos truck, and drives a truckload of apples to San Francisco, where he runs into Figlia. With the help of other drivers and a streetwalker (Valentina Cortese), he defeats Figlia and restores his family honor.
Cast
Richard Conte as Nico "Nick" Garcos
Valentina Cortese as Rica
Lee J. Cobb as Mike Figlia
Barbara Lawrence as Polly Faber
Jack Oakie as Slob
Millard Mitchell as Ed Kinney
Joseph Pevney as Pete
Morris Carnovsky as Yanko Garcos
Tamara Shayne as Parthena Garcos
Kasia Orzazewski as Mrs. Polansky
Norbert Schiller as Mr. Polansky
Hope Emerson as Midge, a buyer
Background
Dana Andrews and Victor Mature were originally announced for the lead.
The film was shot on location in San Francisco, California, and is noted for its accurate depiction of the vibrant fruit and produce market in that city (and the use of extras who worked at the market). The film was released on DVD as part of the Criterion Collection in 2005.
The outdoor Fruit Market scenes were shot in the Oakland Produce Market area on 3rd street. Several indoor and street shots were also made in that locale. The story discusses San Francisco, and does feature the city, but the majority of scenes were in the actual Produce Market in Oakland (now the Warehouse district).