Mr. Eale's review of this PRC movie is right on target; nonetheless, I enjoyed it. Liked the snow bound ski resort setting, the odd assortment of characters and the occasional bits of humor. The humor (at least the intentional humor) is provided by Roscoe Karns. Loved the bit with the talking crow - worth watching the movie just for that. In addition to Karns, Veda Ann Borg and Sid Saylor give some pizazz to the movie. By a coincidence this is the second show I've seen Borg in today. An underrated supporting actor that always made the most out of her roles however small they were. The nominal star of the movie, Bruce Cabot, walks through the movie without adding anything interesting. He did, however, deliver my favorite line in the movie which was the last one: "See what happens when you don't pay your income taxes?"
6 Reviews
The film noir that literally eats crow.
mark.waltz23 June 2019
Warning: Spoilers
Between a talking crow that assists a bartender and a really creepy marionette show, this film noir is one that you will remember, and not in the realm of great film wars like "Double indemnity" and "Laura". PRC, having released to film noir sleepers, "Detour" and "Decoy", as well as a few other obscure gems, went overboard with this one we're private detectives Bruce Cabot and Roscoe Karnes follow a tax evader into avalanche country and end up investigating a series of murders we're ultimately I didn't care who was the guilty party. I just wanted it over.
The joke about the crow is never resolved and should have been the final scene with Cabot getting a glimpse of it, having his partner Karnes throughout the film for claiming that he was seeing a talking crow. when the puppet show begins, you might want to go get a beverage or snack, as it is one of the creepiest sequences I've ever seen on film. The avalanche scenes themselves aren't too bad although I'm sure a good majority of it is stock footage. There are two femme fatales (Helen Mowery and Veda Ann Borg) who seem to have been directed to bellow all their lines. There is nothing subtle about the script for the plot twist or the performances, and much of the film is just downright boring. This is one that I can knock off my list of want, which when I found it, ended up being completely disappointed with.
The joke about the crow is never resolved and should have been the final scene with Cabot getting a glimpse of it, having his partner Karnes throughout the film for claiming that he was seeing a talking crow. when the puppet show begins, you might want to go get a beverage or snack, as it is one of the creepiest sequences I've ever seen on film. The avalanche scenes themselves aren't too bad although I'm sure a good majority of it is stock footage. There are two femme fatales (Helen Mowery and Veda Ann Borg) who seem to have been directed to bellow all their lines. There is nothing subtle about the script for the plot twist or the performances, and much of the film is just downright boring. This is one that I can knock off my list of want, which when I found it, ended up being completely disappointed with.
the ROBOT MONSTER of film noir... in the snow
Howard_B_Eale14 July 2008
Now, this one is a true head-scratcher. Our heroes are two Treasury men (played by Bruce Cabot and Roscoe Karns), but instead of looking for counterfeiters ala T-MEN, they're on a manhunt for a nefarious... tax evader. Their search takes them to the cleverly named High Mountain and a snowbound ski resort, the few occupants of which soon become suspects in a handful of mysterious murders.
This low-budget PRC turkey takes full advantage of the location, with ski chase sequences which defy all rational logic and the occasional avalanche to liven things up. All the while, as the murders pile up and everyone acts as guilty as possible, a trained, talking crow serves drinks at the bar (I'm entirely serious). Oh, and there's a gratuitous marionette puppeting sequence, as well.
Bruce Cabot, he of "King Kong", is about as dynamic as a fence post in his role as the T-man-cum-Hercule Poirot, clumsily romancing Helen Mowery, who is often clad in a sweater embroidered with some sort of a note on her shoulder in the film's most peculiar fashion choice. Cabot gets a sweater, too: a real comfy-looking wintry number. Fuzzy.
Roscoe Karns, drunkenly hilarious in "His Girl Friday", provides a faltering attempt at comic relief here as the incoherent mystery deepens. Perhaps the film's greatest mystery, however, is how a sleeping person manages to avoid being shot in the head at close range by hearing the gunshots and moving out of the way of the bullets (which hit the pillow).
It's an astonishing little footnote in B-picture history. See what happens when you don't pay your taxes?
This low-budget PRC turkey takes full advantage of the location, with ski chase sequences which defy all rational logic and the occasional avalanche to liven things up. All the while, as the murders pile up and everyone acts as guilty as possible, a trained, talking crow serves drinks at the bar (I'm entirely serious). Oh, and there's a gratuitous marionette puppeting sequence, as well.
Bruce Cabot, he of "King Kong", is about as dynamic as a fence post in his role as the T-man-cum-Hercule Poirot, clumsily romancing Helen Mowery, who is often clad in a sweater embroidered with some sort of a note on her shoulder in the film's most peculiar fashion choice. Cabot gets a sweater, too: a real comfy-looking wintry number. Fuzzy.
Roscoe Karns, drunkenly hilarious in "His Girl Friday", provides a faltering attempt at comic relief here as the incoherent mystery deepens. Perhaps the film's greatest mystery, however, is how a sleeping person manages to avoid being shot in the head at close range by hearing the gunshots and moving out of the way of the bullets (which hit the pillow).
It's an astonishing little footnote in B-picture history. See what happens when you don't pay your taxes?
Snowblind and snowbound
bkoganbing8 June 2020
Avalanche casts Bruce Cabot and Roscoe Karns as a pair Treasury agents on the
trail of a tax evader. You know he must have owed a powerful lot of money to
send two people who clearly weren't accountants after him. In any event the
trail takes them to ski country and the guys are trapped with lodgers and staff
and some murders start happening including the guy they're after.
Even though he film is barely 70 minutes it drags at an moeba like pace. Roscoe Karns is some comic relief with a talking crow who assists bartender Syd Saylor wh has the right slant n everyone. But when Veda Ann Borg ca't liven up a film you got trouble.
Even though he film is barely 70 minutes it drags at an moeba like pace. Roscoe Karns is some comic relief with a talking crow who assists bartender Syd Saylor wh has the right slant n everyone. But when Veda Ann Borg ca't liven up a film you got trouble.
A good feature film for the holidays
AMECINCCO9 January 2014
Warning: Spoilers
Having a 16mm bw print (2-reeler) of the movie, it has been and still is an enjoyable time passer around the holidays for the past 50 years. As with many B movies of its time, Avalanche offers that "TV" episode feel stretched out in a full feature film. Not much of an action film, but does have its moments of suspense and drama. Despite its drama and suspense, there is a touch of comedy to break the ice. Specifically the part with the talking crow that seems to speak only to one character. One would wonder if it was all in the characters mind to mask his boredom and fear! So if you like skiing, scenes of snow avalanching randomly and being snow bound in a ski resort, this is the movie to see.
Don't confound with a "could have been" Irwin - and not Irving - Allen AVALANCHE
searchanddestroy-126 January 2024
Everybody knows that producer and director Irwin Allen was the most known disaster films producer and director in Hollywood. This film director here is named Irving, and not Irwin, and the title could have suggested another - but very early - disaster yarn. Which is not at all. Just a bland, flat but not too boring thriller taking place in the mountains. And by the way, you also had another film titled AVALANCHE, and directed by another Allen: but still not Irwin, but Corey. No relation with Irwin I guess, for Coreyy, the REBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE producer. But I maintain that Irwin Allen could have imagined a disaster flick called AVALANCHE. Corey Allen's yarn was indeed a disaster movie, starring Rock Hudson.
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
