FirstWitch
A movie that not only functions as a solid scarefest but a razor-sharp satire.
BelSports
This is a coming of age storyline that you've seen in one form or another for decades. It takes a truly unique voice to make yet another one worth watching.
Humaira Grant
It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.
krocheav
If you enjoy or grew up with 50s - 60s TV, then you could like this film. The story is not bad, it just doesn't get the treatment it deserves. Director/Producer Joseph Kane: of Republic serials, Gene Autry and Roy Rogers fame is in Television mode with this feature. The best performances are given by the prolific (and once Oscar nominated) actor: Gene Lockhart ("The Sea Wolf" etc). Luther Adler: (ex Broadway Director) an always believable professional, excels as the sophisticated crime boss who'll stop at nothing to protect his empire. You may remember him from: "The Desert Fox"'51 ~ "The Last Angry Man" 59, ~ "The Brotherhood" '68) he adds a good degree of class to this mild Republic picture. A fair main lead is given by John Russell in a pre TV's "Lawman" role. Brian Donlevy is reliable, if a little wasted, as the Kefauver type character. Although the script is inspired by the Kefauver criminal activities investigations, its believability sadly stops there. Good lines (with strong statements of fact) are given a superficial TV treatment. Art Direction, Set Decoration, Music, Photography, are also along the style of TV. Although the Cinematographer Reggie Lanning worked with the great Buster Keaton ("The Cameraman" '28) and is also known for "The Wake of the Red Witch" (along with this Director) at this time, both men were crossing over to TV. The richly textured detail of well made 40s films is missing here. Writer: Robert Considine (A.K.F. his collaboration on 'Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo') was an ex Hearst journalist (noted for using two typewriters at once) he also had close writing associations with several American Presidents. The two leading ladies: 1. Clair Trevor, gets to wear many sets of 50s clothing 'styles' (some OK, others slightly ridiculous) and chews the scenery in accord with the script. She's done far better. 2. Vera Ralston, ex Czechoslovakian ice skater ~ brought to Hollywood by Republic Pictures boss Herbert J.Yates, as his 'Protege' (and later wife) is mildly pretty and tries earnestly enough.If not overly discerning, watch this for a couple of good performances, a well intended basic story (smashing the corrupt slot machine racket) or as a 'time' piece. This film has been called 'Noir' by some, but it's basically Television. The Olive DVD transfer release is of recommendable high quality.
Martin Teller
Hoodlum Empire - 5/10Senate committee hearings investigating the gambling rackets threaten the reputation of a former gangster gone good. Capitalizing on the Kefauver hearings, this is a pretty dull story with pretty dull characters and a messy, tedious flashback structure. None of the performances light up the screen, even Brian Donlevy and Claire Trevor are rather disappointing. The script is corny and clichéd, the execution of it is uninspired. Nothing about the film is outright horrible, but there's no reason to recommend it.Hoodlum Empire - 5/10
bkoganbing
Hoodlum Empire was Herbert J. Yates and Republic Pictures way of cashing in on the Senate Rackets hearings that were chaired by Senator Estes Kefauver. A forgotten figure today, Kefauver almost rode the publicity of those hearings all the way to the White House.Yates put together a competent company of players to tell this story. I wish he'd given them a better story. John Russell is the nephew of a Lucky Luciano type mob boss played by Luther Adler who has an attack of conscience and gives up his rackets inheritance for a gas station in some town in middle America. Of course other associates of Adler's like Forrest Tucker aren't so keen on Russell just walking away. He knows too much.As Hollywood coincidence would have it, Russell's company commander from World War II rises to the US Senate and he's the Kefauver figure. Crusading, crimefighting Senator Brian Donlevy has a subpoena out for the big crime bosses and Russell's on his witness list. So is Tucker, Adler, and so is Claire Trevor. One of the highlights of the Rackets hearings was the appearance of Bugsy Siegel's gal pal Virginia Hill and Trevor's character is modeled on her. Claire Trevor is as usual, the moll with the heart of gold. Russell's dumped her for a war bride from France played by Yates's wife Vera Hruba Ralston. She was queen of the Republic lot, like Norma Shearer was at MGM when she was married to Irving Thalberg. Of course Republic wasn't exactly MGM and Ralston didn't have quite the talent of Norma Shearer.So Trevor's got her own agenda and its mixed in with this stew of a story which I will not further elaborate on. She and Adler are the standouts here if one can stand out in this. Adler was one of the best character actors in Hollywood at that time. He was usually a villain and played all kinds of ethnic types. He did a much better gangster portrayal later on in The Brotherhood. Today's audiences won't find this appealing, especially if they don't know who Estes Kefauver was.
jim riecken (youroldpaljim)
Joe Gray, a former gangster who became a hero in World War Two, leads a respectable life until he is called to testify before a grand jury looking into racketeer activity. Of course his former mob cronies, one of whom is his uncle, do not want him to testify and threaten his family. This would have been a good thriller if it did not have the overlong flashback sequences. The flashback to World War Two is overlong, pointless, and looks cheap. Luther Adler and Brian Donlevy give good performances. Even Forrest Tucker is O.K. But John Russell as Joe Gray is stiff and dull. His performance is an embarrassment.
