Between Midnight and Dawn (1950) Mark Stevens, Edmond O'Brien, Gale Storm / American Crime Film Noir

Between Midnight and Dawn is a 1950 American film noir crime film directed by Gordon Douglas and starring Mark Stevens, Edmond O'Brien and Gale Storm. It is notable as one of the earliest Hollywood police films to focus on beat cops rather than detectives and other high-ranking officers.

Plot:
Childhood friends Rocky Barnes and Dan Purvis are Los Angeles prowl-car cops on night duty. Barnes is easygoing while Purvis is a cynic who disdains all lawbreakers. Both men are attracted to radio communicator Kate Mallory, but she is reluctant to become involved with policemen, her cop father having been killed in the line of duty. After several pushes from her mother, she eventually falls for Barnes.

Barnes and Purvis arrest murderous racketeer Ritchie Garris, who then swears vengeance against them. Garris escapes from prison and shoots Barnes in the face several times. After months of hiding from the police, Garris finally believes that it is safe to collect to his girlfriend Terry Romaine and then flee to Mexico. The police, who have been surveilling Romaine's apartment, quickly approach Garris. In a desperate attempt for his freedom, he takes a neighbor girl hostage. Purvis launches a daring solo raid, but while his smoke bomb separates the hostage from Garris, it also disorients Purvis, allowing Garris to gain the upper hand. At the last minute, Romaine jumps in front of Garris' bullet, saving Purvis' life and forcing the him to rethink his cynicism.

Cast:
Mark Stevens as Rocky Barnes
Edmond O'Brien as Daniel Purvis
Gale Storm as Katherine Mallory
Donald Buka as Ritchie Garris
Gale Robbins as Terry Romaine
Anthony Ross as Lt. Masterson
Roland Winters as Leo Cusick
Tito Vuolo as Romano
Grazia Narciso as Mrs. Romano
Madge Blake as Mrs. Mallory
Lora Lee Michel as Kathy

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