Criss Cross (1949)

Returning to the sun-soaked, tumultuous streets of Los Angeles after years away, Steve Thompson, a working-class man, finds himself drawn back into a world of familiar patterns and dangerous obsessions. He settles into his old family home, finding comfort in the routine of his old job as a driver at Horten's Armored Car Service, and the familiar, if somewhat altered, atmosphere of his favorite haunt, the Round-Up bar. However, amidst these familiar faces and routines, two figures from his past loom large; his loyal friend, Police Lt. Pete Ramirez, and the enigmatic Anna, his ex-wife, whose relationship with Steve was a fleeting seven-month whirlwind of passion. Despite the cautionary advice from both his mother and Pete, Steve is unable to resist the magnetic pull Anna has on him. Yet, the tides have changed since their last encounter. Anna, now a stunning siren of the L.A. underworld, is entangled in a dangerous liaison with Slim Dundee, a notorious gangster with a stranglehold on her life. Ignoring the stark warnings from those who care for him, Steve is blinded by a potent blend of love and obsession, crafting a hasty plan that aims to exploit Slim's criminal inclinations. His goal? To reclaim Anna from the clutches of the underworld and secure a fortune large enough for them to start anew. But as this high-stakes plan begins to unravel, the true motivations of all involved come into question, leading to a spiraling chain of events that catapults everyone into unforeseen territories. In this gripping narrative of love, deceit, and desperation, the lines between savior and destroyer blur, leaving audiences to ponder - can one truly rescue another, or are we all just victims of our own obsessions?

Criss Cross is a crime movie featuring Burt Lancaster.

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