Overview
A couple's life takes a dark turn when a bag of money lands in their laps, leading to a web of deceit and danger.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Moderate
- tense
- brooding
- paranoid
- classic noir night
- crime movie marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly recognize an intense, action-driven film noir with effective crime melodrama, though some original reviewers found the performances and plotting routine or uneven.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Jane Palmer deploys her feminine wiles and manipulates those around her to keep the unexpected money.
Jane and Alan's marriage is transformed by their disagreement over the cash and her increasingly dangerous conduct.
The satchel of cash motivates the Palmers, Danny Fuller, and the film's chain of pursuit and betrayal.
The crime melodrama's claustrophobic homes, nighttime roads, and morally threatening spaces support its film noir identity.
Films like Too Late for Tears, and why
Double Indemnity
shared film noir fatalism, femme fatale, criminal greed, and escalating betrayal
The Postman Always Rings Twice
shared noir atmosphere, morally compromised protagonists, and money-driven criminal suspense
The Lady from Shanghai
shared femme fatale characterization, psychological manipulation, and noir crime melodrama
Movie Details
- Director
- Byron Haskin
- Release Date
- 1949-07-17
- Runtime
- 99 min
- Rating
- 6.8 / 10 (99)
Cast
- Lizabeth Scott
- Don DeFore
- Dan Duryea
- Arthur Kennedy
- Kristine Miller
- Barry Kelley
- Kevin O'Morrison
- June Storey
- James Nolan
- Forbes Murray
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- fuboTV, MGM+ Amazon Channel, Philo, Brew, MGM Plus, Pure Flix, Fandor Amazon Channel, FlixFling, IndieFlix Shorts Amazon Channel, Great American Pure Flix Amazon Channel, Artiflix
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, FlixFling
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, FlixFling
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Too Late for Tears about?
- A chance windfall turns a dissatisfied wife into a calculating femme fatale pursued by criminals and trapped by her own greed.
- What is Too Late for Tears like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Too Late for Tears as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Too Late for Tears violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Too Late for Tears as moderate.
- What did critics think of Too Late for Tears?
- Critics broadly recognize an intense, action-driven film noir with effective crime melodrama, though some original reviewers found the performances and plotting routine or uneven.
- Which films are like Too Late for Tears?
- Films with a similar feel include Double Indemnity, The Postman Always Rings Twice, and The Lady from Shanghai.
- How long is Too Late for Tears?
- Too Late for Tears runs 99 minutes.
- Where can I watch Too Late for Tears?
- In United States, Too Late for Tears streams on fuboTV, MGM+ Amazon Channel, Philo, Brew, MGM Plus, Pure Flix, Fandor Amazon Channel, FlixFling, IndieFlix Shorts Amazon Channel, Great American Pure Flix Amazon Channel, Artiflix.
