HOODLUM EMPIRE

US, 1952, 98 minutes, Black and white.
Brian Donlevy, Claire Trevor, Forrest Tucker, Vera Ralston, Luther Adler, John Russell, Gene Lockhart, Grant Withers.
Directed by Joseph Kane.

Hoodlum Empire is a film about Mafia and gangsters in the United States in the 1940s. It was inspired by the investigations at the time by Senator Estes Kefauver.

The film seems rather subdued in comparison with later gangster films, especially The Godfather and those made in the aftermath of The Godfather’s success.

This is a Republic production, Republic being a rather second-level studio. Herbert Yates, the president of Republic, produced the film and starred his Czech-born wife Vera Ralston (not considered to be a very good actress). However, the rest of the cast were strong character actors of the period.

The film has a number of flashbacks, especially to action in World War Two where the central character, who had been a gangster for his uncle prior to the war, achieved some heroism and goes straight after the war. At the time of the investigations, his uncle puts pressure on him and his hit-man, played by Forrest Tucker, is ready to kill him.

The film is more interesting these days as an alternate to the Godfather films – and an indication of how the films were treated in the 1950s. The direction is by Joseph Kane, a director of B-budget films from the 1930s (making up to eleven films in 1936 and still making three a year during the mid-50s). Kane later worked for television series.

1.The impact of the film in its time? Small-budget? Film noir? Expose of gangsters according to the investigations of the period? The film seen now, retrospect, the tradition of gangster films?

2.The Washington settings, the war flashbacks, the American cities? Senate hearings? Apartments? Authentic? Musical score?

3.The title, the derogatory aspects of hoodlums? Gangsters? Money deals, drugs, violence?

4.The framework of the film, Senator Stephens and the hearings? The flashbacks, Stephens in the war, with Joe Gray, with Reverend Simon Andrews? The other men in the squad? The background of war action? The arrival of Nick Mancani, his entourage, Pignatalli and his violence? Connie Williams? The tracking down of Joe Gray? The Senate interrogations? The build-up to the confrontation, the tape recording, the vindication of Joe?

5.Senator Stephens, serious, indicating the seriousness of the Senate at the time? His war action, friendship with Joe, with Simon? The hearings, the other senators, especially Senator Tower? The discussions about the hearings? Listening to Mancani? His suspicions of Joe, believing the rumours? The intervention of Marty? His knowing her during the war? The call from Connie Williams, her taping the conversation to save Joe? His final decisions?

6.Mancani, the pre-war gangster, small-time, making money? Joe working for him, his nephew? Success during the war? Post-war, wanting Joe to join him? The investigations, his ability to disappear, deciding to testify, protecting himself with amendments? His lawyers? His relationship with Connie? With Charlie? His tolerance of Charlie’s violence? Watching the hearings on television? The final confrontation with Joe, the murder of Simon? Connie and the taping? His guilt?

7.Joe, Nick’s nephew, caught up in the rackets before the war, his service, heroism, Simon and his blindness? Meeting Marty? His return, explaining things to Connie? His marriage, the children? Going straight, the service station? The issue of slot machines, service stations and their using the trucks as customers? Documents forged? His going to the club, going to the police and their despising him? The hearings? His reliance on Simon for advice? Simon’s death? His wanting Marty to leave? The confrontation with Pignatalli, with his uncle? The taping? Vindication? Marty, the war, her being saved by the group, falling in love with Joe, the marriage? Her going to Stephens to tell him the truth and persuade him?

8.Connie, the goodtime girl, with Mancani, love for Joe? Accepting his marriage? Her testifying, the irony of her comments, party-giving…? Her love for Joe, taping the discussions and fight? Advising Stephens?

9.Charlie Pignatalli, working with Nick, his violence, confrontations, testimony at the hearings? The man trying to blackmail him and getting him shot? His confrontation with Simon, engineering Simon’s death?

10.Simon, the reverend in the war, blindness? Friendship with the men, with Joe? Supporting him? Going to see Mancani, his being deceived, the lift shaft and his death?

11.The background of senators, police? The gangsters? A picture of the 1940s and early 50s?