Melvin Purvis G-MAN (TV 1974)

Agent Melvin Purvis is placed in charge of running down notorious killer Machine Gun Kelly, and sets out to do just that.

Director:

Dan Curtis

Writers:

John Milius (story), John Milius (teleplay),

Stars:

Dale Robertson, Harris Yulin, Dick Sargent

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Dale Robertson	...	Melvin Purvis
Harris Yulin	...	George 'Machine Gun' Kelly
Dick Sargent	...	Thatcher Covington
Margaret Blye	...	'Kate' Katherine Ryan-Kelly
Matt Clark	...	Charles 'Charlie' Parlmetter
David Canary	...	'Gene' Eugene T. Farber
Elliott Street	...	Thomas 'Buckwheat' Longaker
John Karlen	...	'Tony' Anthony Redecci
Steve Kanaly	...	Sam Cowley
Woodrow Parfrey	...	Nash Covington
Jim Hill	...	'Jim' J. D. Longaker
Don Megowan	...	Hamburger Stand Man
Hank Rolike	...	Shoe Shine Man
Eddie Quillan	...	Hotel Clerk
Max Kleven	...	Purvis' Driver

Storyline

Agent Melvin Purvis is placed in charge of running down notorious killer Machine Gun Kelly, and sets out to do just that.

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Plot Keywords:

machine gun | unsold tv series pilot | police shoot out | outlaw | fbi | 

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Genres:

Action | Biography | Crime | Drama

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

9 April 1974 (USA)

Also Known As:

G-Man

Filming Locations:

Nicolaus, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

American International Pictures (AIP), Dan Curtis Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

74 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Steve Kanaly, who plays FBI Agent Sam Cowley in this film, played "Pretty Boy" Floyd in Dillinger. Both films were written by John Milius (he also directed "Dillinger").

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Connections

Followed by The Kansas City Massacre (1975)

User Reviews

Enjoyable Toned Down Gangster Film

Agent Melvin Purvis (Dale Robertson) is placed in charge of running down notorious killer Machine Gun Kelly (Harris Yulin), and sets out to do just that.

I have been on a gangster kick lately, watching the films I could on Dillinger, Pretty Boy, Bonnie and Clyde and others. When I saw this was directed by Dan Curtis, I just had to add it to the list. I am not sure how well known he was at the time, but today is is something of a legend.

It is also interesting that this was written by John Milius, the same man who wrote "Dillinger". He apparently recycled some of the script, most noticeably the scene where Purvis is referred to as a G-Man for the first time. I would love to see clips back to back with that scene from both films -- delivered in such a similar way by two very different actors.

The violence of this film is not nearly on the level it is in "Dillinger", but that makes it neither better or worse. Just different. Both films are an interesting take on Purvis' career. Both inflated, of course, but interesting.