Criss Cross is a film noir directed by Robert Siodmak and based on the novel of the same name by Don Tracy. It was released in 1949 and stars Burt Lancaster, Yvonne DeCarlo, and Dan Duryea.
The film follows Steve Thompson, a man who returns to Los Angeles after a long absence to try and rekindle his romance with his ex-wife Anna. Despite warnings from his family and friends that she is bad news, Steve can't resist her and starts seeing her again. However, Anna has married a local gangster named Slim Dundee, and their relationship is fraught with danger.
To impress Anna and get her to leave Slim, Steve hatches a plan to rob an armored truck. He enlists the help of two other accomplices and successfully pulls off the heist, but things go wrong when Slim finds out and takes revenge on Steve. The film ends with a dramatic showdown between the two men, and Steve's fate is left uncertain.
Criss Cross is notable for its intricate plot structure and its use of flashbacks to show the audience how the characters got to where they are. The film is praised for its moody atmosphere and tense, suspenseful scenes, and is considered a classic of the film noir genre.