Black Hand (1950)

Now grown-up, Johnny Columbo returns to New York from Italy having sworn a vendetta against the Black Hand who killed his father years earlier. Becoming romantically involved with a girl ... See full summary »

Director:

Richard Thorpe

Writers:

Luther Davis (screen play), Leo Townsend (from a story by)

Stars:

Gene Kelly, J. Carrol Naish, Teresa Celli

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Gene Kelly	...	Giovanni E. 'Johnny' Columbo
J. Carrol Naish	...	Louis Lorelli
Teresa Celli	...	Isabella Gomboli
Marc Lawrence	...	Caesar Xavier Serpi
Frank Puglia	...	Carlo Sabballera
Barry Kelley	...	Police Capt. Thompson
Mario Siletti	...	Benny Danetta / Nino
Carl Milletaire	...	George Allani / Tomasino
Peter Brocco	...	Roberto Columbo
Eleonora von Mendelssohn	...	Maria Columbo (as Eleonora Mendelssohn)
Grazia Narciso	...	Mrs. Danetta
Maurice Samuels	...	Moriani
Burk Symon	...	Judge
Bert Freed	...	Prosecutor
Mimi Aguglia	...	Mrs. Sabballera

Storyline

Now grown-up, Johnny Columbo returns to New York from Italy having sworn a vendetta against the Black Hand who killed his father years earlier. Becoming romantically involved with a girl from school and meeting up with an honest cop also fighting the gangs, Columbo starts to wonder if there may be legal ways to defeat them.

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Plot Keywords:

italy | extortion | fugitive | little italy | naples italy | 

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Genres:

Crime | Film-Noir | Thriller

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Certificate:

Passed

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

12 March 1950 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Knife

Filming Locations:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios - 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

92 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This was originally set up as a Robert Taylor vehicle.

User Reviews

Low rent Godfather sans the glamor

After his father is murdered for standing up to the mob Johnny Columbo swears to avenge his death. Well entrenched in Little Italy the Mafia uses violence and intimidation to keep the community in its grip and Columbo finds it difficult at first to get assistance in breaking the code of silence that solidify's their grip. When he enlists the help of detective Louis Lorelli things begin to happen and the mob responds harshly.

Gene Kelly in an off type role as Johnny is a slight stretch (it begs for Richard Conti) but convincing enough. It is J. Carroll Naish as intrepid detective Lorelli though that runs away with the film. It's nice to see J. center stage and noble given his career as a venal and craven weakling in many of his films hanging on the edge of scenes, ready to pounce on someone's misfortune.

Workman like director Richard Thorpe more than once allows his scenes to drag in spots but cinematographer Paul Vogels excellent camera work fills the suspense lapses with excellently lit exteriors and some nice subtle tracking work. There are Lang like moments as well with Thorpe eschewing suspense music in favor of silence and ambient noise to heighten scenes but his poor pacing and moments of incredulity prevent the film from reaching full potential.

There is certainly more ugly truth to be found in the film Black Hand that deals with the same topic of the Mafia as the more sophisticated violently romantic Godfather films. Pale in comparison to the production values, vaunted cast and and directing styles of the saga it still delivers moments that rival.