ILLEGAL

US, 1955, 88 minutes, Black and white.
Edward G. Robinson, Nina Foch, Albert Dekker, Hugh Marlowe, Jayne Mansfield, Howard St. John, Ellen Corby.
Directed by Lewis Allen.

Illegal is a brisk gangster, lawyer thriller. It is a remake of a 1932 vehicle, The Mouthpiece. Edward G. Robinson is excellent as a District Attorney who makes a mistake, resigns, takes to drinking and working for a gangster. Nina Foch is very good as his devoted secretary. There is strong supporting cast of character actors. Included in the cast as the gangster's mistress is a young Jayne Mansfield.

The film was co-written by W. R. Burnett, author of such thrillers as The Asphalt Jungle. Direction is by Lewis Allen, director of such thrillers as The Unseen and The Uninvited. The film is entertaining of its kind.

1. The popularity of the gangster film? With legal background? A film of the '50s echoing the 130s?

2. Warner Bros. production values, black and white photography, the atmosphere of the city, editing and pace, Max Steiner score?

3. The title and its focus on law, the administration of justice? The law and gangsters? Themes of justice?

4. The focus on Victor Scott - his skills as a District Attorney, his sending the innocent victim to the electric chair, the discovery of the truth too late? His resignation? His collapse and drinking? Ellen and her trying to help him? The friendship of Ray Borden? Victor's collapse, his walking the bars and the streets? His eventually joining Frank Garland? His low self-esteem? His work for Garland, his using his skills against the District Attorney's office? The discovery of the truth? Ellen's being taken to prison? His decision to defend her and go against Garland? The pursuit of Scott in the street, the murder attempt? His going to the courtroom, his testimony clearing Ellen? His using Angel O'Hara against Garland? Bringing her to the court? Vindicating himself in his death?

5. Ellen Miles and her devoted assistance, her working with moral support? Her love for Rag Borden? Their marriage? Ellen's clashes with Victor? Her discovery of the truth about Ray Borden? Suspicions by the District Attorney's office that she might be the leak to the gangsters? Confrontation with Raw, the gunfight and his death? Her being imprisoned? Victor's supporting her? The tension of the court sequences? Her vindication? Ray as a friend of Victor, loving Ellen, marrying her? The ex-investigator, his contacts, his giving information to Garland? His being caught by Ellen and trying to cover? His attempt on her life, death?

6. Frank Garland and the racketeers of the city, gangster styles? Power? use of corrupt lawyers? Clashes with the District Attorney's office? Angel O'Hara as Garland's mistress? Decorative? His using her? Her wanting a career? Her decision to testify against him?

7. The range of supporting characters: he District Attorney, lawyers, crooked contacts of Garland? Miss Hinkle and her devotion to Victor?

8. The perennial interest of this kind of portrait of civic corruption, law and order?