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IMDbPro

Machine-Gun Kelly

  • 19581958
  • UnratedUnrated
  • 1h 20m
IMDb RATING
6.1/10
1.6K
YOUR RATING
Charles Bronson in Machine-Gun Kelly (1958)
The criminal exploits of Public Enemy number 1, George 'Machine-Gun' Kelly, during the 1930s.
Play trailer1:58
1 Video
27 Photos
  • Action
  • Biography
  • Crime
The criminal exploits of Public Enemy number 1, George 'Machine-Gun' Kelly, during the 1930s.The criminal exploits of Public Enemy number 1, George 'Machine-Gun' Kelly, during the 1930s.The criminal exploits of Public Enemy number 1, George 'Machine-Gun' Kelly, during the 1930s.
IMDb RATING
6.1/10
1.6K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Roger Corman
  • Writer
    • R. Wright Campbell(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Charles Bronson
    • Susan Cabot
    • Morey Amsterdam
Top credits
  • Director
    • Roger Corman
  • Writer
    • R. Wright Campbell(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Charles Bronson
    • Susan Cabot
    • Morey Amsterdam
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 32User reviews
    • 19Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 1:58
    Trailer

    Photos27

    Charles Bronson in Machine-Gun Kelly (1958)
    Machine-Gun Kelly (1958)
    Machine-Gun Kelly (1958)
    Machine-Gun Kelly (1958)
    Machine-Gun Kelly (1958)
    Machine-Gun Kelly (1958)
    Machine-Gun Kelly (1958)
    Charles Bronson in Machine-Gun Kelly (1958)
    Charles Bronson and Susan Cabot in Machine-Gun Kelly (1958)
    Charles Bronson and Susan Cabot in Machine-Gun Kelly (1958)
    Charles Bronson, Morey Amsterdam, and Susan Cabot in Machine-Gun Kelly (1958)
    Charles Bronson in Machine-Gun Kelly (1958)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Charles Bronson
    Charles Bronson
    • George R. 'Machine Gun' Kellyas George R. 'Machine Gun' Kelly
    Susan Cabot
    Susan Cabot
    • Florence 'Flo' Beckeras Florence 'Flo' Becker
    Morey Amsterdam
    Morey Amsterdam
    • Michael Fandangoas Michael Fandango
    Richard Devon
    Richard Devon
    • Appleas Apple
    Jack Lambert
    Jack Lambert
    • Howardas Howard
    Frank DeKova
    Frank DeKova
    • Harryas Harry
    • (as Frank De Kova)
    Connie Gilchrist
    Connie Gilchrist
    • 'Ma' Beckeras 'Ma' Becker
    Wally Campo
    Wally Campo
    • Maizeas Maize
    Barboura Morris
    • Lynn Graysonas Lynn Grayson
    Lori Martin
    Lori Martin
    • Sherryl Vitoas Sherryl Vito
    • (as Dawn Menzer)
    George Archambeault
    • Frankas Frank
    Robert Griffin
    Robert Griffin
    • Mr. Andrew Vitoas Mr. Andrew Vito
    Michael Fox
    Michael Fox
    • Detective Clintonas Detective Clinton
    Larry Thor
    Larry Thor
    • Detective Drummondas Detective Drummond
    Shirley Falls
    • Marthaas Martha
    Dwight Brooks
    • Corrupt Copas Corrupt Cop
    • (uncredited)
    Gene Corman
      J. Edgar Hoover
      J. Edgar Hoover
      • Self - in photoas Self - in photo
      • (uncredited)
      • Director
        • Roger Corman
      • Writer
        • R. Wright Campbell(screenplay)
      • All cast & crew
      • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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      Storyline

      Edit

      Did you know

      Edit
      • Trivia
        Actor Dick Miller, a Roger Corman regular, was scheduled to play the title role, but writer R. Wright Campbell kept pushing for his brother, William Campbell, to get it and began tailoring the script to emphasize his brother's strengths. To avoid internal squabbling, Corman assigned the role to Charles Bronson.
      • Goofs
        While loosely--VERY loosely--based on the real "Machine Gun Kelly" (real name George Kelly), there are many incidents in this film that simply never happened. For one thing, the only time Kelly ever fired his machine gun was on on a firing range, and he certainly never killed or even shot at anyone, contrary to what is shown in this film. Also, the Kelly gang didn't kidnap a millionaire's little girl, as shown in this film; they kidnapped the millionaire himself, a wealthy brewer named Charles Urschel, and this is what eventually led to Kelly's capture and imprisonment. Also, he wasn't captured in a shootout with lawmen, as shown here; police and FBI agents in Memphis, TN, surprised him in the stairwell of a boarding house and he fell to his knees and screamed "Don't shoot, G-men!", thereby coining the name that FBI agents have been known by since then--an incident that is completely left out of this film.
      • Quotes

        Florence 'Flo' Becker: You like beautiful things Howard?

        Howard: More than anything else in the world.

      • Crazy credits
        Opening credits: THE TITLE CHARACTER UPON WHICH THIS STORY IS BASED IS TRUE. The other characters, all events and firms, depicted are fictional. Any similarity to actual persons living or dead is purely coincidental.
      • Connections
        Featured in Kain's Quest: The Stone Killer (2015)

      User reviews32

      Review
      Top review
      Don't get smart with this hot-head.
      George Kelly is a small-time crook looking to make some big newspaper headlines to impress his imposing moll Flo. After one successful bank robbery after another, one turns into a botch job with Kelly's phobia of death leaving on his men dead and the other wanting his blood. After ridding that problem, due to Flo's pressure to do something. She influences him into kidnapping a wealthy businessman's daughter, but this would lead onto their downfall with Kelly's lurking weakness coming through.

      Roger Corman does it again. "Machine-Gun Kelly" is another fine example of perfect film-making on a minimal budget and time restraint, where he's still able to deliver a sturdy, brisk and fleshed-out b-gangster film with a professional touch. The picture looked good, and photographer Floyd Crosby's sharp and shadowy handling brought out the film's brooding ambiance. While Gerald Fried's jazzy music score keeps it all in an exciting and saucy mood. Corman's style isn't overly jumpy, but more so tight, tough and namely suggestive in its actions and basic story telling. Actually there's plenty of time and focus on the material, and that of the complex character of Kelly. One of the major curiosities however, would be that of Charles Bronson's sterling performance as George "Machine-Gun" Kelly. For his first lead role he plays it accordingly, with an on edge and moody shade of an infant bully. Equally as impressive was his icy co-star Susan Cabot. Her vividly titular performance as the cheeky, sly broad of Kelly's is dominantly manipulative. The support cast (Morey, Frank De Kova, Jack Lambert, Richard Devon, Connie Gilchrist) added much-welcomed colour and personality. Corman's straight-laced direction is efficiently organised and he brews up a smoky atmosphere with its authentically wishy-washy 1930's settings. R. Wright Campbell's pulp material is loaded with a snappy, economical and highly engaging script and is loosely based on a 1930s gangster. It's actually an innovative little set-up with some effective psychology brushes and a downbeat ending that fits right at home with the central character's ineptness of his reputation. Kelly's character really sticks out a like a sore thumb compared to the rest of the hardened criminal figures. It's all about the power and name one achieves from these acts is what they're after, not just the doe. This what makes Kelly look uncomfortable.

      Even with its limitations, it turns out to be a highly entertaining and satisfying low-scale crime caper by Roger Corman.
      helpful•13
      1
      • lost-in-limbo
      • Jul 7, 2007

      Details

      Edit
      • Release date
        • May 1958 (United States)
      • Country of origin
        • United States
      • Language
        • English
      • Also known as
        • Machine Gun Kelly
      • Filming locations
        • Universal Studios - 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California, USA
      • Production companies
        • American International Pictures (AIP)
        • El Monte Productions
      • See more company credits at IMDbPro

      Box office

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      • Budget
        • $100,000 (estimated)
      See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

      Technical specs

      Edit
      • Runtime
        1 hour 20 minutes
      • Color
        • Black and White
      • Sound mix
        • Mono
      • Aspect ratio
        • 1.37 : 1

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