Producer-director Denis Sanders saw Crime and Punishment U.S.A. as a “tragedy for the Beat Generation” and subsequently cast George Hamilton in the lead because of his similarity to Anthony Perkins.
Grade: C
Hamilton, in his first screen role, acquits himself homorably (but no more). He will make a strong impression the following year, in Minnelli’s domestic Melodrama, Hime from the Hill, as Robert Mitchum’s son and Geoge Peppard’s younger brother.
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The film, written by Walter Newman, differs from Dostoyevsky’s classic 1866 novel in both plot and characterization.
For starters, it is set in contemporary Santa Monica, California, rather than in 19th-century Russia.
Hamilton plays a California law student who murders a pawnbroker, and then matches wits with the detective on the case. However, his conscience finally catches up with him, and he confesses to the murder.
The film, which was completed in 1958 but was released more than one year later (Nov 1, 1959), was a commercial flop, which brought loss to Roger Corman.
Cast
George Hamilton as Robert Cole
Mary Murphy as Sally Marmon
Frank Silvera as Lt. Porter
Marian Seldes as Debbie Cole
John Harding as Fred Swanson
Wayne Heffley as Rafe
Toni Merrill as Mrs. Cole
Lew Brown as Sgt. Samuels
Jim Hyland as Man in Coffee Shop
Len Lesser as Desk Officer
Credits:
Produced, directed by Denis Sanders
Screenplay by Walter Newman, based on Crime and Punishment, 1866 novel by Fyodor Dostoyevsky
Produced by Terry Sanders
Cinematography Floyd Crosby
Edited by Merrill G. White
Music by Herschel Burke Gilbert
Distributed by Allied Artists
Release date: Nov 1, 1959
Running time: 96 minutes
