LAW OF THE UNDERWORLD
US, 1938, 61 minutes, Black-and-white.
Chester Morris, Anne Shirley, Eduardo CIanelli, Richard Bond, Walter Abel, Lee, Paul Guilfoyle, Frank M.Thomas, Jack Carson.
Directed by Lew Landers.
This is a brief and brisk crime thriller. And, it is a crime thriller with something of a difference in so far as the central character, smooth, suave and with many society friends and parties, and played by Chester Morris before he became Boston Blackie, is actually the head of a gang with connections to the mob.
We are introduced to one of the criminals, instantly to be disliked, psychopathic, played by Eduardo Cianelli, unscrupulous in killing. However, he is the underling to the boss of the gang, resenting it. He is seen with one of his associates holding up a young romantic couple in the park, taking their $136, with which they plan to build a house and get married.
In terms of credibility of the plot, one wonders why they did not go to the police to report the theft. Instead, the young man turns up at the headquarters, menacing a gun, wanting the money back. He is urged on by his girlfriend.
The central part of the action is a robbery at jewellery store, the young couple being pressurised into taking part, getting a fee and then disappearing. The robbery is successful but there is a shootout, especially with the psychopath doing the killing. A further complication is that the boss’s girlfriend, Lee Patrick, a singer in a club, is double-timing him with the psychopath. She wants the associates to vote to kill the boss but she is outwitted, get revenge by calling the police – but then his killed by the boss’s very loyal (but completely imprudent) lieutenant
The police go into action, the couple are identified by the salesman at the shop, they are interrogated, but are very firm in not betraying the boss, liking him.
There is a new district attorney, Walter Abel, who wants to clean up the town, cannot believe that his friend is the boss of the syndicate.
Investigations, interrogations, pressure on the couple, their standing firm, the boss planning to leave and go overseas by ship, but emotionally pressurised to confess and to save the couple.
