description The Lineup Overview
The Lineup is a 1958 American film noir directed by Don Siegel, distributed by Columbia Pictures. It serves as a loose film adaptation of the CBS police procedural television series that ran from 1954 to 1960. The plot centers on two ruthless hitmen, played by Eli Wallach and Robert Keith, who are tasked with retrieving heroin from unwitting airline passengers arriving in San Francisco. Notable for its extensive location shooting across San Francisco landmarks, including the Sutro Baths, the film is tailored for fans of classic crime cinema and procedural noirs.
help The Lineup FAQ
What criminal scheme drives the plot of The Lineup?
A smuggling organization hides heroin in the luggage and possessions of unsuspecting travelers entering San Francisco. Dancer and Julian are sent to recover the packages before police lieutenant Ben Guthrie can dismantle the operation.
Who plays Dancer and Julian in The Lineup?
Eli Wallach plays the volatile gunman Dancer, while Robert Keith plays his older associate Julian. Julian records victims' final words in a notebook, one of the film's most disturbing character details.
Which San Francisco locations appear in The Lineup?
Don Siegel filmed around the city, including the Embarcadero Freeway, the War Memorial Opera House, and locations associated with Sutro Baths. The real streets and unfinished freeway give the 1958 film much of its documentary-like energy.
How is The Lineup connected to the earlier CBS series?
The film was adapted from the police procedural property that had already appeared on CBS radio and television. Unlike the series-focused framing, Don Siegel's movie devotes substantial attention to Dancer, Julian, and the violent heroin-recovery plot.
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