Frank Silvera(Charlie Roman), John Marley(Tony Romano) & Everett Sloane(Lou Adams) play two brothers and one friend who turn to a life of crime when they are young men. Charlie becomes the Don of a big crime family, while Tony became a Doctor and Lou became the Family attorney. Both Tony and Lou want Charlie to go legitimate, and away from narcotics, but ruthless fellow crime boss Harry Gans(played by Jay C. Flippen) thinks that a mistake, and poor Charlie's bad heart will soon push events in a new direction that will devastate all...Interesting precursor to "The Godfather" is nowhere in that league of course, but remains one of the better crime episodes, though with few surprises.
9 Reviews
"He who takes, gets, and it don't matter how."
classicsoncall14 January 2012
Warning: Spoilers
If I didn't know better, one could make a case that this was an early inspiration for the movie "The Godfather". There are a number of elements here that appeared in the 1969 Mario Puzo novel, later made into a feature film by Francis Ford Coppola. Chief among them is the rise to power of a young hood who becomes the boss of a crime family, and resists the mob's involvement in dealing narcotics due to the effects it might have on kids in the local neighborhood. What makes this 'Thriller' episode strangely prescient is the appearance of John Marley as the good brother Tony, who grew up to be a doctor like his family wanted him to. His name isn't that familiar as an actor, but you'll remember him as the guy who woke up with the horse's head in his bed, culminating in a deal he couldn't refuse from Don Corleone.
Aside from all that however, this is a story that really doesn't go anywhere. Every scene and event is fairly well anticipated, as gangster thug Harry Ganz (Jay C. Flippen) makes his play to replace Cesare Romano/Charlie Roman (Frank Silvera) for the godfather role in their operation. Charlie Roman's heart attack scene didn't strike me as very realistic with his lawyer Lou (Everett Sloane) making a feeble attempt to get out of Ganz's grasp, and fellow mobster Johnny Longo (Anthony Caruso) just wimping out instead of helping Roman.
The ending as well was somewhat unsatisfying for my taste. A tap on Lou's phone signaled Ganz's boys that he was about to testify against him, so Ganz makes his play and has him rubbed out as he leaves his apartment. The ensuing chase scene by the cops is handled off-screen, with the sound of gunfire and a car crash to signal that the jig was up with Ganz. No pools of blood for 1960 TV as Lou Adams lies dead at the bottom of the steps riddled with machine gun fire. When Sonny Corleone got hit, you knew that movie violence had reached a whole new level.
Aside from all that however, this is a story that really doesn't go anywhere. Every scene and event is fairly well anticipated, as gangster thug Harry Ganz (Jay C. Flippen) makes his play to replace Cesare Romano/Charlie Roman (Frank Silvera) for the godfather role in their operation. Charlie Roman's heart attack scene didn't strike me as very realistic with his lawyer Lou (Everett Sloane) making a feeble attempt to get out of Ganz's grasp, and fellow mobster Johnny Longo (Anthony Caruso) just wimping out instead of helping Roman.
The ending as well was somewhat unsatisfying for my taste. A tap on Lou's phone signaled Ganz's boys that he was about to testify against him, so Ganz makes his play and has him rubbed out as he leaves his apartment. The ensuing chase scene by the cops is handled off-screen, with the sound of gunfire and a car crash to signal that the jig was up with Ganz. No pools of blood for 1960 TV as Lou Adams lies dead at the bottom of the steps riddled with machine gun fire. When Sonny Corleone got hit, you knew that movie violence had reached a whole new level.
Everett Sloane and John Marley
kevinolzak29 September 2008
I'll always have a soft spot for "The Guilty Men," sixth of producer Fletcher Markle's 8 generally dismissed crime entries. The story of two poverty stricken brothers whose lives take very different paths, there are elements of "The Godfather" present, especially in the surprise casting of John Marley as the humanitarian sibling who grows up to become a respected doctor while the other (Frank Silvera) becomes an underworld mob kingpin with the assistance of his childhood friend and longtime attorney (Everett Sloane). Silvera's character has a bad heart, and he wants the syndicate to drop the dope activities so that he can appear more philanthropic to his doctor brother, a suggestion that leads his scheming rival, played to the hilt by Jay C. Flippen, to plot a brutal takeover with the aid of Anthony Caruso, who played yet another mobster in the STAR TREK episode "A Piece of the Action." Yes, the characters may be clichéd, the plot may be utterly predictable, but the strong cast delivers on all counts, especially Everett Sloane, who tragically took his own life just five years after this show was broadcast. Jay C. Flippen died in 1971, John Marley in 1984, and Frank Silvera, an eerie presence in the hourlong Hitchcock thriller "The Life Work of Juan Diaz," was accidentally electrocuted in 1970 after his friend Royal Dano warned him not to mess with a malfunctioning garbage disposal unit.
These angels had slightly smudged faces.
mark.waltz5 October 2019
Warning: Spoilers
With Frank Silvera and John Marley as brothers, one a monster, the other a doctor, their lives could not be any different. But when Silvera wants to make his business legitimate, a mob war erruots and mob attorney Everett Sloane takes measures to prevent Silvera's desires from transpiring. A shocking twist has his grieving wife (Argentina Brunetti) furious, and it's up to brother Marley to see that the genuine wishes of Silvera are carried out.
There's a shocking scene as Silvera has a massive heart attack and can't reach the pills in front of them where his so-called friends just stand there and watch him die. This episode shows his disgust with the innocent young men being killed is organization ships in, even though making a profit off of that for years. Jay C. Flippen really flips around here as the second in command and Silvera's own Judas.
This is the first episode where Boris Karloff actually has more to do than just introduced the episode in a minute speech. He actually narrates a brief history of the various rackets that the mobs have been involved in over the years, and that makes him more important here for a change. This is the type of episode that guided "The Untouchables", and it really works with a great script and fine acting.
There's a shocking scene as Silvera has a massive heart attack and can't reach the pills in front of them where his so-called friends just stand there and watch him die. This episode shows his disgust with the innocent young men being killed is organization ships in, even though making a profit off of that for years. Jay C. Flippen really flips around here as the second in command and Silvera's own Judas.
This is the first episode where Boris Karloff actually has more to do than just introduced the episode in a minute speech. He actually narrates a brief history of the various rackets that the mobs have been involved in over the years, and that makes him more important here for a change. This is the type of episode that guided "The Untouchables", and it really works with a great script and fine acting.
This was quite interesting...then it just stopped!
planktonrules20 October 2018
"The Guilty Men" is well acted...that's for sure. But the show suffers from two huge problems...it seems like it doesn't belong on "Thriller" and the ending is far from satisfying. Overall, it's a disappointment.
The story is about a mobster, Charlie Romano (Frank Silvera). After spending a lifetime cheating, stealing and hurting those around him, he's the head of organized crime...but for what? His brother (John Marley) hates him and he's a social pariah. So, perhaps to try to buy his way out of Hell, Charlie wants the organization to get out of the drug business and be a kinder, friendlier sort of mob. How this impacts him and those within the mob is what the show is about....hardly topics you'd expect to see on this show.
In addition to the above mentioned actors, Everett Sloane and Jay C. Flippen star in this one. The plot, believe it or not, is much of what you'll find in "The Godfather"...which is great except that it's supposed to be a suspense program...and there's precious little of it and the ending just stinks.
The story is about a mobster, Charlie Romano (Frank Silvera). After spending a lifetime cheating, stealing and hurting those around him, he's the head of organized crime...but for what? His brother (John Marley) hates him and he's a social pariah. So, perhaps to try to buy his way out of Hell, Charlie wants the organization to get out of the drug business and be a kinder, friendlier sort of mob. How this impacts him and those within the mob is what the show is about....hardly topics you'd expect to see on this show.
In addition to the above mentioned actors, Everett Sloane and Jay C. Flippen star in this one. The plot, believe it or not, is much of what you'll find in "The Godfather"...which is great except that it's supposed to be a suspense program...and there's precious little of it and the ending just stinks.
Untouchables get into Thriller
searchanddestroy-16 February 2021
So unusual for this series to find out some kind of UNTOUCHABLES kind topic put into it. It is usually question of mysteries and dramas, gothic with romantic involvements or light terror, not this kind of scheme; why not a sci-fi topic for THRILLER? Anyway, it is surprisingly good, with an non UNTOUCHABLES director - Jules Bricken has never made any UNTOUCHABLES, but in this episode some UNTOUCHABLES actors, such as Jay C Flippen, and Anthony Caruso.
Thoroughly predictable crime drama
preppy-326 September 2014
One of the worst episodes on the "Thriller" TV series from 1960. It deals with a crime syndicate run by Cesare Romano (Frank Silvera). He's constantly butting heads with aggressive and obnoxious Harry Gans (Jay C. Flippen) who wants to take over. Kindly lawyer Lou Adams (Everett Sloane) tries to keep the piece.
Dull and utterly predictable crime drama with all the stereotypes in place. I knew exactly where this was going from frame one. One the plus side the acting wasn't bad. Sloane and Flippen are good and Silvera is very good (even though he tends to overdo it at times). At the beginning host Boris Karloff promises us, "This is a thriller!" Sorry Boris but you're wrong.
Dull and utterly predictable crime drama with all the stereotypes in place. I knew exactly where this was going from frame one. One the plus side the acting wasn't bad. Sloane and Flippen are good and Silvera is very good (even though he tends to overdo it at times). At the beginning host Boris Karloff promises us, "This is a thriller!" Sorry Boris but you're wrong.
So Much Possibiliity, So Little Effort
Hitchcoc10 November 2016
There's a syndicate. They sell drugs. Everything else is legal. Huh! There's a lawyer who works for a guy with one of the worst Italian accents I've ever heard. Everyone sounds like Chico Marx. This guy has a past and can't get out of the syndicate. The guy that founded it wants to go straight. The other guys, especially Jay C. Flipped, want to expand. The story is convoluted and unbelievable. People act in the most ridiculous ways. There is a scene at a funeral that is preposterous. The closing scene is also laughable. Anyone could write this tripe. The acting is so bad. Why don't the other gangsters ever talk.
Wow! Just Wow!
rarefind-4746031 October 2020
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