In looking into this film I came across a nice description
of the film, a genre I’d not actually heard of before. They termed this film
neo-noir. Film noir is used to describe darker crime dramas that come out
during the 40s and 50s but by the time this film arrived those had passed.
Taking that same sort of crime drama and placing it into current context (at
the time) placed this movie in that new category. The film is filled with crime
and has that dark sensibility to it and if you enjoy films of the genre the
odds are good you’ll enjoy this one.
The movie opens with a tough street kid named Tolly Devlin
(David Kent) who witnesses the murder of his father by four thugs. Recognizing
one of them he doesn’t turn him in, instead vowing vengeance to the mother
figure in his life, speakeasy owner Sandy (Beatrice Kay). Becoming a career
criminal he first get sent to reform school but then as he gets older upgrades
to safe cracking. This gets him tossed into prison where he wants to be since
the man he recognized is there.
Now grown (and portrayed by Cliff Robertson) he works his
way into the prison hospital where he confronts the man and on his death bed
learns the identities of the other 3 men involved. When he’s released from prison
he returns to Sandy who encourages him to go straight. She’s sold her business
to the new crime lord in town Earl Connors (Robert Emhardt). Tolly tells her
he’ll do so but has his own agenda in mind.
Stealing drugs one of the men on his list, now working for
Connors, deals he gets a meeting with the man. Claiming he had no idea who they
belonged to he gains favor with the man and goes to work for him. While taking
the drugs he rescues a woman named Cuddles (Dolores Dorn) who would have been
killed had he not done so.
Cuddles and Tolly are soon an item, at least in her mind.
For Tolly his life is nothing but revenge. It isn’t long before he creates a
long term plan to take down the men who killed his father. He approaches the
special investigator into organized crime, John Driscoll (Larry Gates).
Driscoll was the assistant DA looking into his father’s death. Now Tolly tells
him he’s willing to help by providing him information about the entire Connors
crime organization.
Playing one side against the other in this pursuit of
revenge there is one thing that Tolly loses in the process, his humanity. His
passion to get back at the men who killed his father is so consuming that he
loses all respect for anyone, including Sandy. His treatment of Cuddles is no
more chivalric than that of her tormentors in the Connors organization who
eventually call for her death. The question being asked throughout the film is
will Tolly carry on with his quest for revenge or instead seek redemption?
The film was directed by Sam Fuller, known for his work in
the genre. Fuller had no problem working outside the studio system and was well
known for making solid films on a low budget that didn’t seem so. The worlds he
depicted were normally gritty and filled with unfeeling characters. This film
fit right into the movies he was known for and along with SHOCK CORRIDOR and
THE NAKED KISS have become highly regarded critically.
I’ve always enjoyed Robertson in films I’ve seen him in but
I wasn’t prepared for his portrayal of Tolly here. Robertson always played good
guys or aw shucks style characters. He holds his own here as the single minded
killer with no compunction for destroying the men who killed his father no
matter who gets hurt in the process. His treatment of Cuddles is cold and cruel
and makes you find it difficult to sympathize with his character. His quest for
revenge seems justified but his method of pursuing it leave him someone we all
find hard to support.
The movie was an entertaining crime drama that I’m sure fans
will enjoy. Twilight Time is releasing this in their usual cleaned up style
with a 1080p hi def version on blu-ray. Extras here are more than the usual
with an isolated music track, a short documentary SAM FULLER STORYTELLER, a
reflection on the film MARTIN SCORSESE ON UNDERWORLD U.S.A. and the original
theatrical trailer. As always the release is limited to just 3,000 copies so if
interested order yours today.
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