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‘ inanities as, “What is this, a hi- BAPEC 22 1960 CY f Corp eG time Afallew) ae — Pie te Allied Arties release of i Lindsley Par- | eons production. Stars Barry Sullivan, Rob- - ert Blake, Elaine Edwards; features Mare ; Cavell, Jody Lawtanee, Joseph Turkel; with Sucy Marquetio, Vietor Creatore, Paul Du- bor, Kathleen Lockhart, Nestor Paiva, Low Krugman, Maurits Hoge, Norman Nazerr, Joho [Indrisano, Dirk London. Prolog by Congressman James Roosevelt. Directed by Frank McDonald; written by Jack DeWisy, camera, Eliie Carter; editor, Maurice Wright) music, Poul Dunlap; song, “Runaia’ Wild,” by Joe Gray, Leo Woed, A Harrington - Gibbs; ert direction, David Milton; cet | decoration, Frank Lombardo; sound, Tom . Lambert; assistant director, Lindsley Par. | sone Jr. Previcewed at the studle, Jan, 6, | 1960. Runaniog time, 55 mins. { In a prolog, Congressman James | Roosevelt assures the audience that the incidents, based on fact, can’ happen again. Barry Sullivan, as a police of- ficer, and Robert Blake, as the youthful gang leader, do fine jobs | as do a number of supporting © layers (including Mare Cavell and . oseph Turkel). Others tend to} overact, Elaine Edwards does very nicely. Jack DeWitt's script allows such jack?” when it’s obvious to all that it is. At numerous points, characters lack sufficient motiva- tion. Partly make-up’s fault, the teenagers do not show any signs! ol growing older as they become | adults. But it’s an action picture— despite its pretensions to social: significance—and, as such, it’s top- | notch. Since the crimes aren’t pret. tified and the criminals not glam- _, orized, it should do no social harm either, however violent the fim. Dazzled by a flurry of fascin- ating montages and stunned by the relentless march of viciousness, the audience won't cavil at a few dra- matic flaws. This is a fast-moving, violent film about actual Detroit hood- lumism during the Prohibition era. SSkillful blending of newsreel and; ; tock footage with excellent staged dmateria! gives it an atmosphere ertain to engross and excite juve {Continued on Page 18) j fa LY ON re aE Se ty facut Sets eee _ oo . Paar a . Glowit? RCO Sar ie ee fa 4 FF & gol "~The (Continued from Page 3) _ and adult audiences alike. it looks like a b.o. winner. Director Frank McDonald has - avoided horror, and, with greater taste, concentrated on terror. Vio- lent deaths abound, but the mere explicit details of cruelty are omitted. Since tne Victims are shotgunned, crushed, sealed in ce- ment, etc., it’s a mercy. It’s too melodramatic to be a “semidocumentary,” too episodic to be drama, and too superficial to be deadly serious slice-of-life ser- wee nn amie it murnorte to he mon on crime it Purports to om. Premise (somewhat withdrawn in the final scene) is that under- age criminals should be treated as severely as their adult counter- parts. Except for a few pedantic remarks made by cops and welfare workers, the premise is neither de- fended nor explored. Cameraman Ellis Carter and film editor Maurice Wright have done outstanding jobs. Paul Dunlap’s music assists as does the tune “Runnin’ Wild.” David Milton, art director, did a craftsmanly job of ttuning the sets to the stock foal- ge. And, of course, producér indsley Parsons has done an ade b of collecting and coordinating ese talents. Glen. DAILY VARIETY oo HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA TaliréDyY AU ibd 70280 wy Lowe Soest sore yt Purple Gang-——— A Me. Pars os Mr. Bele at Mr. €@2. Mr. Baler. Bee Wr gt... ohade ae Ls: Mr. Rasen Pre Term Mir. Trot Mr Wf alba Tele, FR. | Mr. inersn Miss Gans ST EET IS ide ‘Mer, Tolson. i Mr Biahy eae +