Illegal (1955)

After an overly aggressive district attorney unknowingly sends an innocent man to the chair, he resigns, turns to drinking, and acquires a criminal clientèle.

Director:

Lewis Allen

Writers:

W.R. Burnett (screenplay), James R. Webb (screenplay),

Stars:

Edward G. Robinson, Nina Foch, Hugh Marlowe

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Edward G. Robinson	...	Victor Scott
Nina Foch	...	Ellen Miles
Hugh Marlowe	...	Ray Borden
Jayne Mansfield	...	Angel O'Hara
Albert Dekker	...	Frank Garland
Howard St. John	...	E.A. Smith
Ellen Corby	...	Miss Hinkel
Edward Platt	...	Ralph Ford
Jan Merlin	...	Andy Garth
Robert Ellenstein	...	Joe Knight
Jay Adler	...	Joseph Carter
Henry Kulky	...	Taylor
James McCallion	...	Allen Parker
Addison Richards	...	Steve Harper
Lawrence Dobkin	...	Al Carol

Storyline

Ambitious D.A. Victor Scott zealously prosecutes Ed Clary for a woman's murder. But as Clary walks "the last mile" to the electric chair, Scott receives evidence that exonerates the condemned man. Realizing that he's made a terrible mistake he tries to stop the execution but is too late. Humbled by his grievous misjudgement, Scott resigns as a prosecutor. Entering private practice, he employs the same cunning that made his reputation and draws the attention of mob kingpin, Frank Garland. The mobster succeeds in bribing Scott into representing one of his stooges on a murder rap and Scott, in a grand display of courtroom theatrics, wins the case. But soon Scott finds himself embroiled in dirty mob politics. The situation becomes intolerable when his former protege in the D.A.'s office is charged with a murder that seems to implicate her as an informant to the Garland mob. Can Victor defend the woman he secretly loves and also keep his life?

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Plot Keywords:

innocent man | district attorney | criminal | courtroom | electric chair | 

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Taglines:

The 'fixer' took care of everything!

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Film-Noir

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

16 March 1956 (France)

Also Known As:

Schakale der Unterwelt

Filming Locations:

Criminal Courts Building - 210 W. Temple Street, Downtown, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros

Technical Specs

Runtime:

88 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Film debut of Jayne Mansfield.

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Goofs

When Victor Scott addresses the jury he refers to the 45 revolver used to kill Gloria Benson in the opening scene. The gun in fact is a semi-automatic pistol, not a revolver.

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Quotes

Joseph Carter: I'm through with mouthpieces. They take the fees, and I take the rap! Ahh!

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Connections

References Miracle in the Rain (1956)

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Soundtracks

"Too Marvelous for Words"
(uncredited)
Music by Richard A. Whiting
Lyrics by Johnny Mercer
Performed by Jayne Mansfield

User Reviews

Almost Forgotten Noir

A remake of Warner's "The Mouthpiece" (1932) "Illegal" is a substantial half forgotten Noir! Directed for Warners in 1955 by Englishman Lewis Allen it stars Edward G. Robinson as a highly accomplished prosecuting attorney who becomes disillusioned when he learns that the man he was responsible for sending to the electric chair (a young DeForest Kelly) has finally been exonerated and found to be innocent after all. With his reputation now in tatters he hits the bottle ending up on skid row. But he slowly picks himself up from the gutter becomes a defence lawyer and a "fixer" for racketeer Albert Dekker. Robinson is terrific in it! His screen presence - with that soft spoken matter of fact acting style

• is altogether appealing. This, after "Key Largo" (1948) was his first

picture for the studio since his contract ended with them in 1942. And while not being an overly auspicious return it wasn't a bad one either. Others in the cast are Nina Foch, Hugh Marlowe and making her debut , as Dekker's moll, the voluptuous Jayne Mansfield with the dubious moniker Angel O'Hara (Dekker auditioning her as she plays the piano glibly declares to Robinson "interesting girl - lives and breaths music!"). A fairly engaging movie, nicely written and sharply photographed in monochrome by Perverell Marley. The studio's legendary composer Max Steiner provides an attractive score which gives the movie an agreeable pace.

"Illegal" is the second feature on this excellent DVD that also features RKO's enjoyable Mitchum Noir "The Big Steal" (1949). A splendid package this fine double bill comes with trailers and commentaries for both movies plus a featurette. Interestingly the commentary on "Illegal" is spoken by the film's leading lady Nina Foch (she pronounces it Fash) who informs us that she now teaches film directing at USC. Not bad for an 84 year old! Also Robinson is interviewed on set by the ill-fated Gig Young where we learn that Robinson loaned some of his prized and valuable paintings from his famous art collection to the studio for use in the picture. They can readily be seen in the movie in Dekker's palatial apartment.

Classic line from "Illegal" - when Robinson warns Dekker not to blame him if the court case goes wrong - Dekker responds "I don't blame people - I bury 'em"!