Time Table (1956)
Directed by and starring Mark Stevens, Time Table is a taut, 80-minute film noir crime thriller that begins as a classic heist mystery and gradually reveals deeper layers of moral ambiguity and personal betrayal. Released by United Artists, the film is notable for its clever structure, crisp pacing, and a standout twist that redefines the protagonist’s role.
Plot Summary
A train traveling through Arizona is robbed of a $500,000 payroll by a man posing as a doctor. The heist is executed with surgical precision, and the culprits vanish without a trace. Charlie Norman (Mark Stevens), an insurance investigator, is called in to work alongside railroad detective Joe Armstrong (King Calder) to solve the case.
As the investigation unfolds, it becomes clear that Norman himself is secretly involved in the crime, orchestrating the robbery to fund a new life with his mistress. The film shifts from procedural to psychological noir, as Norman tries to stay ahead of the investigation he’s leading—until guilt, suspicion, and fate begin to close in.
Cast Highlights
- Mark Stevens as Charlie Norman
- King Calder as Joe Armstrong
- Felicia Farr as Linda Brucker
- Marianne Stewart as Ruth Norman
- Wesley Addy as Dr. Paul Brucker
- Alan Reed, Rodolfo Hoyos Jr., and Jack Klugman in supporting roles
Production Notes
- Directed and produced by Mark Stevens, who also co-founded the production company
- Screenplay by Aben Kandel, based on a story by Robert Angus
- Music by Walter Scharf, cinematography by Charles Van Enger
- Distributed by United Artists
- Shot in black-and-white, with a focus on tight interiors and shadowy compositions typical of noir
