This story takes place in the political world of re-election and it's full of complications as to who is allying themselves to whom. One thing is certain and that is that politician Brian Donlevy (Madvig) and gangster Joseph Calleia (Nick) are on opposite sides. When Richard Denning (Taylor) is murdered, the plot to undermine Donley takes off. But it's not an easy story to follow. People's relationships needed to be clearer from the start. Goodness knows what Alan Ladd (Ed) is there for.
I've never been an Alan Ladd fan. His popularity totally baffles me. He has just never convinced me as a tough guy. Rather like Elisha Cooke Jr. In this film, he hangs around Donlevy as his best friend, obeying Donlevy's every request. A bit like his bitch. Actually, very much his bitch. He goes adoringly out of his way to please Donlevy, taking some serious beatings which I assume fulfils his homosexual need for male physical contact. He can't get anything sexually out of Donlevy so he turns to the homosexual physicality that William Bendix (Jeff) seems to enjoy indulging himself in. Ladd and Bendix share this latent homosexuality. Or should I say blatant homosexuality. Ladd also has a really creepy smile and shouldn't be allowed to emote on screen.
A further point about Ladd is his inability to act. His bland monotone is delivered as if he is a depressive or possibly autistic. You're not going to have a barrel of laughs with this guy. In fact, in real life, there is debate as to whether or not he committed suicide. I think he did.
I was slightly disappointed with this film but I guess it depends on whether or not you like Alan Ladd. The funniest moment comes after Bendix has possibly gone too far with one of his beatings and Alan Ladd tells a waiter "You better get an ambulance in case he's alive" to which Bendix replies "You better get an undertaker in case he isn't" Very funny – best bit of the film.
I've never been an Alan Ladd fan. His popularity totally baffles me. He has just never convinced me as a tough guy. Rather like Elisha Cooke Jr. In this film, he hangs around Donlevy as his best friend, obeying Donlevy's every request. A bit like his bitch. Actually, very much his bitch. He goes adoringly out of his way to please Donlevy, taking some serious beatings which I assume fulfils his homosexual need for male physical contact. He can't get anything sexually out of Donlevy so he turns to the homosexual physicality that William Bendix (Jeff) seems to enjoy indulging himself in. Ladd and Bendix share this latent homosexuality. Or should I say blatant homosexuality. Ladd also has a really creepy smile and shouldn't be allowed to emote on screen.
A further point about Ladd is his inability to act. His bland monotone is delivered as if he is a depressive or possibly autistic. You're not going to have a barrel of laughs with this guy. In fact, in real life, there is debate as to whether or not he committed suicide. I think he did.
I was slightly disappointed with this film but I guess it depends on whether or not you like Alan Ladd. The funniest moment comes after Bendix has possibly gone too far with one of his beatings and Alan Ladd tells a waiter "You better get an ambulance in case he's alive" to which Bendix replies "You better get an undertaker in case he isn't" Very funny – best bit of the film.