‘Gun Crazy’ – A Movie Filmed in Montrose in 1950

One of the most famous scenes in cinematography, a filmed robbery of a Montrose bank, comes from an obscure “film-noir” piece released in 1950. It is a three and a half minute long “single take” inside a moving car, a significant feat in those days. What makes it even more remarkable is that it was guerilla-style filmmaking – the busy mid day street, Honolulu Avenue, was unregulated, much of the dialogue was ad-lib and, save for the actors, none of the shoppers and other cars were aware that a movie was being shot.

The plot of “Gun Crazy” has much what made 1967’s “Bonnie and Clyde” such a big hit – a murderous romance with a sexual tension that fairly crackles, lots of action and a peek into the criminal mind. Even the plot is similar. Boy meets girl, boy and girl go on a violent crime spree, boy and girl die. “Gun Crazy” is well known in film noir movie circles, and the Montrose bank robbery scene is iconic.

In that scene, we are viewing the drama from the back seat of a big 1940s sedan. We see the backs of the driver, Annie, played by diminutive Peggy Cummings, and her accomplice Bart (in the passenger seat), played by John Dall. They are still in cowboy garb from their stint as carny sharpshooter performers. Through the windshield of the car we see that we are traveling northbound on Verdugo Road approaching Montrose. We can see the much smaller trees in the center median as they turn left onto Broadview Drive. As the two share a cigarette and small talk, they turn right on Market Street, and pass by the back of Anawalt Lumber and the backs of the store buildings we are so familiar with. The tension builds as they wait to turn left onto Honolulu Avenue. It’s obviously very crowded, a mid day street with cars and shoppers. Through the front windshield we can see Cozette’s, a popular Montrose children’s clothing store, as they turn onto Honolulu and head toward Ocean View Boulevard.

Just before the intersection, Annie pulls the car to the curb in front of a bank (which is today Faye’s) on the northwest corner of Honolulu and Ocean View. Bart exits the car to rob the bank while Annie tensely waits behind the wheel. Bad luck as a policeman strolls around the corner. As Annie gets out of the car, the camera swings around to view through the passenger window. Annie flirts with the policeman until Bart runs out of the bank. Annie knocks out the policeman with her gun and Bart and she pile back in the car. They turn down Ocean View, and turn again on Broadview, tires squealing, and then down Verdugo. The whole time we get a perfect view of 1950 Montrose. It’s an amazing time capsule.

This groundbreaking one-shot take was engineered by removing much of the back of a stretch Cadillac. The camera was loosely mounted in the rear-seat area with the operator riding on a jockey saddle atop a greased board. Mics were hidden in the car, and two soundmen rode on the roof of the car with a boom mic to catch the exterior dialog. The only people in the camera’s view aware it was a movie were the two bank robbers and the policeman. It had never been done before.

The movie was written by the famous writer Dalton Trumbo. This was during Trumbo’s famous McCarthy-era fight with HUAC (House Un-American Activities Committee). The blacklisted writer was writing under a pseudonym, but the screenplay is riveting.

The movie flopped at the box-office but is today recognized as a true gem of filmmaking. The Montrose bank robbery scene is a triumph of cinematography that is still talked about today. For us here in CV, it’s a historical gem.

The scene is easily found on YouTube. I also posted the robbery segment on the historical society’s website, cvhstory.org, under “What’s Happening This Month.” As well there’s a “then and now” side-by-side recently filmed version of the journey through Montrose. It’s an amazing ride!