Odds Against Tomorrow

Play trailer

Odds Against Tomorrow

1959,

1h 35m,

Crime/

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Stream Now

Watchlist

88%

16 Reviews

Tomatometer

83%

500+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

88%

Tomatometer

16 Reviews

83%

Popcornmeter

500+ Ratings

Disgraced former police officer David Burke (Ed Begley) is looking for a way to make some quick money. When he decides to rob a bank, he calls on mean ex-con Earle Slater (Robert Ryan) and black entertainer Johnny Ingram (Harry Belafonte) to help him pull off the heist. Johnny is reluctant to agree but is forced to reconsider because of his significant gambling debts, while racist Earle balks because of Johnny's involvement. Ultimately, though, they must work together to get the job done.

Watch on Fandango

Stream Now

Stream

Buy Odds Against Tomorrow on Fandango.

Derek Smith

Slant Magazine

Feb 1, 2024

Robert Wise’s Odds Against Tomorrow is a pointed critique of race in America, and it’s as tense, thrilling, and relevant today as it was in 1959.

Go to Full Review

Variety Staff

Variety

Jul 10, 2018

Director Robert Wise has drawn fine performances from his players. It is the most sustained acting Belafonte has done. Ryan makes the flesh crawl as the fanatical bigot.

Go to Full Review

Paul Tickell

Sight & Sound

Jul 10, 2018

The genius of the film is that its Greek tragedy is rooted in the here and now of a racially divided 1950s America.

Go to Full Review

Jeffrey M. Anderson

Combustible Celluloid

Feb 20, 2024

3.5/4

This very strong film noir by Robert Wise, and with a screenplay co-written by the blacklisted Abraham Polonsky, can be a bit heavy, but it's brutally effective.

Go to Full Review

Howard Cook

Billboard

Mar 24, 2023

Lewis manages some interesting effects to create musical tension to parallel the action by switching from the small group to big orchestra.

Go to Full Review

Jennie Kermode

Eye for Film

Mar 10, 2023

3.5/5

The striking framing by director Robert Wise and cinematographer Joseph C Brun...adds an extra layer of menace to the urban environment.

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

Poe S

Nov 11, 2018

Though not as well known as other genre entries, Odds Against Tomorrow is considered the last of the true '40s and '50s film noirs. Featuring a dark jazz score, a brooding atmosphere, and racially conscious themes, Odds is the story of a robbery gone awry. The downward spiral begins when ruthless killer and crook Eric Slater teams up with crooked ex-cop Dave Burke, and deeply indebted gambler/lounge singer Johnny Ingram to rob a bank in upstate New York. Trouble arises from the start because Slater has an insane hatred for African Americans and Ingram is black. Ingram, who owes a fortune to homosexual gangster Bacco, is desperate to get the needed cash lest Bacco harm Ingram's family. Tensions between Ingram and Slater are high from the start, but Burke mediates, and they proceed with their plan. Right off the bat, things go terribly wrong. First, Slater is recognized by a gas station attendant while Ingram is required to fill out police paperwork after he witnesses an accident. In order to get into the bank, Ingram impersonates a delivery boy and brings food to the bank employees. Unfortunately, the real delivery boy shows up with the cops. A shoot-out ensues and Burke is hit. Unable to get the other two the keys to the getaway car, he shoots himself. Meanwhile Slater and Ingram flee to an oil refinery. Unable to contain their mutual hatred, the two begin shooting. A stray bullet blows up a nearby tanker and themselves. The charred cinders of their bodies are found after the inferno subsides. With the grisly remains barely recognizable as human let alone black or white, the pointlessness of their hatred and bigotry stands as their greatest legacy . -

See more

Draco R

Mar 9, 2018

A seriously underrated movie with a surprisingly deep atmosphere with which the delightfully bleak jazzy soundtrack helps a lot. It's a heist movie that looks like a drama, for underneath it are the social issues of the day, real issues, not made up ones like the ones in the modern society. In overall it's a well-crafted and directed movie with excellent performances by Harry Belafonte and Robert Ryan. The ending is probably a bit clumsily done but it doesn't mar the movie itself.

See more

Read all reviews

Robert Wise

Director

Harry Belafonte

Johnny Ingram

Robert Ryan

Earle Slater

Shelley Winters

Lorry

Ed Begley

David Burke

Gloria Grahame

Helen

Compulsion

100%

85%

Compulsion

Watchlist

Bad Day at Black Rock

97%

87%

Bad Day at Black Rock

Watchlist

Elmer Gantry

94%

87%

Elmer Gantry

Watchlist

Fat City

100%

84%

Fat City

Watchlist

This Sporting Life

96%

86%

This Sporting Life

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

Synopsis

Disgraced former police officer David Burke (Ed Begley) is looking for a way to make some quick money. When he decides to rob a bank, he calls on mean ex-con Earle Slater (Robert Ryan) and black entertainer Johnny Ingram (Harry Belafonte) to help him pull off the heist. Johnny is reluctant to agree but is forced to reconsider because of his significant gambling debts, while racist Earle balks because of Johnny's involvement. Ultimately, though, they must work together to get the job done.

Director: Robert Wise
Producer: Robert Wise
Screenwriter: Abraham Polonsky, Nelson Gidding
Production Co: HarBel Productions
Genre: Crime, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (DVD): Dec 2, 2003
Runtime: 1h 35m

Join The Newsletter

Join The Newsletter

Cookie Settings