Roadblock (1951)

 I start Noirvember with this competent B-picture about honest insurance investigator Charles McGraw, who reluctantly gets involved with criminals in order to finance the lifestyle desired by his dream girl Joan Dixon. In true film noir irony, Joan really loves Charles even if he dosen't have much money. I liked the two lesser known leads, the film is an approate mix of melodrama and procedural, with a legitimately exciting ending featuring a chase sequence down the dry LA Riverbend, one of the first movies to use that as a filming location. When the couples flight encounters rain and turbulence early in the story I knew they'd be okay, because a point is made that they are flying TWA, the airline owned by then RKO owner Howard Hughes. **1/2