Except for some studio publicity shots, the three Rico brothers do not appear together. About eighty percent of the scenes feature Richard Conte as the oldest brother. His domestic life is depicted with a wife (Dianne Foster) who's eager to adopt a child; his work life is shown so that we know he runs a clean business, literally since he owns a laundry company; and his connections to an avuncular mob boss (Larry Gates) are downplayed, because he hasn't worked for the guy in ages.
However, his two brothers are still working for Gates. Both are now in trouble with the law as well as the syndicate. When Conte gets a call that something is up, he begins to worry.
Soon he meets up with the middle brother (Paul Picerni) who admits to killing someone and that their kid brother (James Darren) drove the getaway car. Darren scrammed to parts unknown, while Picerni has become a punching bag for some goons since Gates the kingpin is no longer happy with him.
Conte flies to Miami to meet with Gates to try and solve his brothers' problems. But this only creates problems for Conte. He is told that he needs to track down Darren, whom Gates fears will take a deal with the feds. Gates acts as if he just wants Conte to talk some sense into the younger brother. But he's really using Conte to hunt Darren down, so he can get rid of the kid.
In the next part Conte heads to New York and meets a man (Lamont Johnson) whose sister (Kathryn Grant) recently married the youngest brother and is now pregnant. Conte also stops by a candy shop run by his mother (Argentina Brunetti) who lives above the place with grandma (Mimi Aguglia, Brunetti's real-life mother).
Conte is told by mama that Darren contacted her awhile ago from California. Conte decides to hop a plane to Phoenix, where he will get a connector flight to El Camino.
The New York-based scenes reveal how close the Ricos are, even though they are in different regions of the country. There's a moment when mama realizes the extreme danger her boys are in and begs Conte to be careful. She prays before a statue of the Virgin Mary and tears seem to effortlessly stream down her face. Conte's interactions with her are very genuine.
This is followed by the sequence where Conte arrives in the southwest. He quickly drives to a remote area and locates his little brother.
They talk about the syndicate and how much trouble Darren has gotten himself into with Gates. At this point in the story Conte is still a bit naive, thinking he can fix everything...not quite figuring out that his brother is going to die soon.
Their discussion is interrupted by the wife (Grant) who has taken an instant dislike towards Conte. She becomes hysterical and goes into labor. Conte is forced to return to a local motel to wait for news. When he gets back to the motel, Conte has to deal with two of Gates' men (Harry Bellaver and Rudy Bond) who reveal that it's time for Darren to face the music. And if he doesn't, then Conte's days will also be numbered.
There's a powerful scene where Conte calls Darren and learns the baby was just born-- a boy that will be named after their late father. Only Darren's joy will be short lived. He must leave the house and walk out to meet some men who are going to kill him. If he doesn't go, then the wife and the baby, and the other people they are staying with, will also be murdered.
Mercifully, this death scene occurs off-camera. Though I think if it were remade today, we would definitely have it included where he walks off to his doom. We'd probably see his brutal killing play out on screen. Since the story is filmed without the death happening on camera, we have to rely on Conte's emotional reactions to fill the void.
There is a follow-up scene with Conte and Bond on their way back east, where Bond tells Conte that the other brother, played by Paul Picerni, was also killed. In that case, it was because he tried to double-cross the mob. This information is a turning point for Conte who decides that with both his brothers now dead, he has to take matters into his own hands to defeat Gates.
Instead of returning to Florida, Conte calls his wife and says he plans to head back to New York. He is going to meet with Grant's brother and cooperate with the feds. Conte's wife is now in danger and she must fly to New York as well. They meet up in a hotel room, where Conte outlines his plans to get money from the bank for her, his mother and his infant nephew.
While this is occurring, Gates gets wind of what's going on by a mob informant. He rushes to New York to confront Conte inside the mother's candy shop. There is a violent shoot-out which leaves no doubt that Gates has now been brought down.
Director Phil Karlson makes the most of these scenes, and there is not one wasted moment in this film. We get the requisite happy ending with Conte and Foster arriving at an orphanage to pick up the child they're adopting. As they step forward, they leave behind the old life they knew.
However, his two brothers are still working for Gates. Both are now in trouble with the law as well as the syndicate. When Conte gets a call that something is up, he begins to worry.
Soon he meets up with the middle brother (Paul Picerni) who admits to killing someone and that their kid brother (James Darren) drove the getaway car. Darren scrammed to parts unknown, while Picerni has become a punching bag for some goons since Gates the kingpin is no longer happy with him.
Conte flies to Miami to meet with Gates to try and solve his brothers' problems. But this only creates problems for Conte. He is told that he needs to track down Darren, whom Gates fears will take a deal with the feds. Gates acts as if he just wants Conte to talk some sense into the younger brother. But he's really using Conte to hunt Darren down, so he can get rid of the kid.
In the next part Conte heads to New York and meets a man (Lamont Johnson) whose sister (Kathryn Grant) recently married the youngest brother and is now pregnant. Conte also stops by a candy shop run by his mother (Argentina Brunetti) who lives above the place with grandma (Mimi Aguglia, Brunetti's real-life mother).
Conte is told by mama that Darren contacted her awhile ago from California. Conte decides to hop a plane to Phoenix, where he will get a connector flight to El Camino.
The New York-based scenes reveal how close the Ricos are, even though they are in different regions of the country. There's a moment when mama realizes the extreme danger her boys are in and begs Conte to be careful. She prays before a statue of the Virgin Mary and tears seem to effortlessly stream down her face. Conte's interactions with her are very genuine.
This is followed by the sequence where Conte arrives in the southwest. He quickly drives to a remote area and locates his little brother.
They talk about the syndicate and how much trouble Darren has gotten himself into with Gates. At this point in the story Conte is still a bit naive, thinking he can fix everything...not quite figuring out that his brother is going to die soon.
Their discussion is interrupted by the wife (Grant) who has taken an instant dislike towards Conte. She becomes hysterical and goes into labor. Conte is forced to return to a local motel to wait for news. When he gets back to the motel, Conte has to deal with two of Gates' men (Harry Bellaver and Rudy Bond) who reveal that it's time for Darren to face the music. And if he doesn't, then Conte's days will also be numbered.
There's a powerful scene where Conte calls Darren and learns the baby was just born-- a boy that will be named after their late father. Only Darren's joy will be short lived. He must leave the house and walk out to meet some men who are going to kill him. If he doesn't go, then the wife and the baby, and the other people they are staying with, will also be murdered.
Mercifully, this death scene occurs off-camera. Though I think if it were remade today, we would definitely have it included where he walks off to his doom. We'd probably see his brutal killing play out on screen. Since the story is filmed without the death happening on camera, we have to rely on Conte's emotional reactions to fill the void.
There is a follow-up scene with Conte and Bond on their way back east, where Bond tells Conte that the other brother, played by Paul Picerni, was also killed. In that case, it was because he tried to double-cross the mob. This information is a turning point for Conte who decides that with both his brothers now dead, he has to take matters into his own hands to defeat Gates.
Instead of returning to Florida, Conte calls his wife and says he plans to head back to New York. He is going to meet with Grant's brother and cooperate with the feds. Conte's wife is now in danger and she must fly to New York as well. They meet up in a hotel room, where Conte outlines his plans to get money from the bank for her, his mother and his infant nephew.
While this is occurring, Gates gets wind of what's going on by a mob informant. He rushes to New York to confront Conte inside the mother's candy shop. There is a violent shoot-out which leaves no doubt that Gates has now been brought down.
Director Phil Karlson makes the most of these scenes, and there is not one wasted moment in this film. We get the requisite happy ending with Conte and Foster arriving at an orphanage to pick up the child they're adopting. As they step forward, they leave behind the old life they knew.