The Gangster (1947)

Barry Sulivan is a cynical gangster who controls the Neptune Beach waterfront. He runs a numbers racket with the local soda shop owner: the police are in his pocket and the local hoods are on his payroll.

Director:

Gordon Wiles

Writers:

Daniel Fuchs (story), Daniel Fuchs (screenplay),

Stars:

Barry Sullivan, Belita, Joan Lorring

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Barry Sullivan	...	Shubunka
Belita	...	Nancy Starr
Joan Lorring	...	Dorothy
Akim Tamiroff	...	Nick Jammey
Harry Morgan	...	Shorty (as Henry Morgan)
John Ireland	...	Frank Karty
Sheldon Leonard	...	Cornell
Fifi D'Orsay	...	Mrs. Olga Ostroleng
Virginia Christine	...	Mrs. Mary Karty
Elisha Cook Jr.	...	Oval
Ted Hecht	...	Swain (as Theodore Hecht)
Leif Erickson	...	Beaumont
Charles McGraw	...	Dugas
John Kellogg	...	Sterling

Storyline

Chubunka is the self-made head of the rackets in the sleazy boardwalk community of Neptune City, a low-rent version of Coney Island. He has become infatuated with a sultry nightclub chanteuse and lavishes her with gifts and attention, spending money on her that might better go to maintaining his hold on his operation. His obsession with her, as well as his pride, clouds his judgment as Cornell, a much more ruthless hoodlum, moves in on Chubunka's territory, bribes and threatens his associates, and compromises his operation. As if in a Greek tragedy, the petty gangster's weaknesses conspire to cause his downfall.

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Plot Keywords:

gangster | racket | racketeer | numbers racket | boardwalk | 

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Taglines:

TOLD WITH BULLET FORCE BY THE PRODUCERS OF "DILLINGER" (original ad - all caps)

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Film-Noir | Romance

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

25 November 1947 (USA)

Also Known As:

Low Company

Company Credits

Production Co:

King Brothers Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

84 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

When Jammy gets the note from Cornell's hood, the rain is pouring all around him, but when the camera cuts into his face holding the umbrella, there are no raindrops hitting the puddles behind him.

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Quotes

Shorty: Your wife called. What should I tell her?
Nick Jammey: Tell her I dropped dead.

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Soundtracks

"Paradise"
Written by Gordon Clifford and Nacio Herb Brown
Sung by Belita (dubbed)

User Reviews

Interesting

As a film noir entousiasme, I don't rate this film on the top ten of the genre. But it has some moments. Some great shots by Cinematographer Paul Ivano that would deserve being laminated and hanged on a wall. I'll let you notice them. Also check out a young 24 years old Shelley Winter with a 10 seconds scene as a waitress.

In brief a movie carried by cinematography more than acting, by atmosphere more than by a script.