Time Table (1956) - feat. Jack Klugman & Felicia Farr

Dr. Paul Bruckner (Wesley Addy), a surgeon whose license has been revoked for alcoholism, poses as Dr. Sloane aboard a train passing through Arizona. His presence there is part of a caper involving Lombard, a patient pretending to be infected with polio, on whose behalf he gains access to his physician's bag in the baggage car. There he blows the safe and steals a huge cash payroll. Bruckner and his accomplice disembark at a remote small town, escaping in a stolen helicopter.
The insurance company assigns claim investigator Charlie Norman (Mark Stevens) to the case, forcing him to postpone his vacation to Mexico with his wife Ruth (Marianne Stewart). Joe Armstrong (King Calder), a veteran railroad policeman also investigates.
During the escape, Lombard accidentally shot himself, forcing Bruckner, and the money, to remain with him instead of escaping to Mexico. Charlie's assignment to the case further complicates matters.
However, Charlie is the secret mastermind behind the plot. He carefully planned the crime after meeting Bruckner, who filed a false accident claim. Charlie plans to disappear in Mexico with Bruckner's wife Linda (Felicia Farr), who pretended to be Lombard's wife, and use the cash to finance his new life. Bruckner, desperate for money, joined in the crime strictly for the cash.
Charlie decides that they should all wait for the investigation to cool before trying to continue on to Mexico. However, Joe, methodically investigating each aspect of the crime, finds an accomplice who leads to another, Al Wolfe (Alan Reed), the owner of the "stolen" helicopter. Charlie realizes that Bruckner and Wolfe double-crossed him, killed Lombard and planned to keep the money for themselves. Charlie kills Wolfe to silence him and makes it appear to be a suicide. Bruckner, trying to escape to Mexico with Linda and his share of the loot, panics during a routine customs check and tries to force his way across the border, but is killed by police. Linda escapes, and Joe arranges to accompany Charlie to Mexico to find her, believing that she has the rest of the loot.
Charlie sees an opportunity to escape and stashes his cut of the money in a briefcase to smuggle into Mexico. He suspects Bruckner had already arranged to leave Mexico for another country with Linda. Charlie also discovers that an unsuspecting Ruth has tried to pull a practical joke on him by substituting fishing gear for his work reports in the briefcase. She has discovered the stolen money and returned it anonymously to the insurance company. While pursuing Linda to take Bruckner's place in the double-cross plan, Charlie draws the suspicion of Joe and the Mexican police. Forced to abandon Bruckner's plan, Charlie and Linda are cornered and killed in a shootout.
A 1956 American Black & White film-noir crime film produced & directed by Mark Stevens, screenplay by Aben Kandel, story by Robert Angus, cinematography by Charles Van Enger, starring Mark Stevens, Jack Klugman, Felicia Farr, King Calder, Marianne Stewart, Wesley Addy, Alan Reed, Rodolfo Hoyos Jr., and John Marley. Released by United Artists.
Felicia Farr, born Olive Dines, was the wife of actor Lee Farr, and then Jack Lemmon. She appeared (as Randy Farr) in "Big House, USA" (1955). Her earliest screen appearances include three Delmer Daves' Westerns: "Jubal" (1956), "3:10 to Yuma" (1957) and "The Last Wagon" (1956).
The aircraft in the scene where Joe and Charlie go to the airport is a 1940 Waco UPF-7, tail number N30107. About 600 were built between 1937 and 1942. Many were used as trainers during WWII. As of 2016 this plane's registration is still active, possibly indicating it is still flying.
Al Wolfe tells the investigators the guy who chartered his helicopter had "something to do with uranium". The search for uranium ore deposits in the U.S. was a common topic in the 1950's. It's mentioned in several movies, and the theme of at least one game of the time.
The New York Times, critic Milton Esterow wrote: "The latest Hollywood triple-threat is Mark Stevens, the gentleman currently portraying one of television's crusading editors ... Mr. Stevens has shed his video zealousness against evil and become an insurance investigator on the wrong side of the law, the mastermind of a $500,000 train robbery and a ruthless killer. His transformation is a credit to his versatility. He comes off pretty well, even if 'Timetable' doesn't. ... Also, Mr. Stevens is thoroughly grim. Too grim. Perhaps it's the TV influence. Anyway, give us a smile once in a while, old boy, things aren't as bad as all that."
Filmed in the flat, grayish TV style of the 1950s, this rather forgotten, no-frill, tight, well-plotted crime film was handled like you were watching a real investigation unfold. It is rife with plot twists, occasional expressionist touches, intriguing characters, and features a supporting cast of familiar faces. A stand-out in the realm of the lower budget B-Movie genre. Fascinating throughout.

[@ChrisCarlin-is8wv]

Great flick, thanks

[@robertwilliams533]

Question. How did they get the phony ambulance without someone in the telegraph office to divert the message to his girlfriend and cohorts? 🤔

[@pressureworks]

It's Fiction, btw. You know, made up, pretend, imaginary events, invented, untrue.

[@markantrobus8782]

These 1950s brassieres were too much. Very aggressive.

[@nickcharles1284]

Jack Klugman is NOT in this movie.

[@markantrobus8782]

He is in the credits.

[@markantrobus8782]

Klugman is the driver being grilled by the investigators.

[@nickcharles1284]

@@markantrobus8782 Ty: blink and you will miss it. He should not be billed in the title.

[@ChrisCarlin-is8wv]

@around 38:00

[@pressureworks]

Yes he is, just not Featured, as the confused uploader would have us believe.