The Gangster (1947)

Best Quote:  [Opening lines] That was what I was. I work the rackets... dirty rackets... ugly rackets. I was no hypocrite. I knew everything I did was low and rotten. I knew what people thought of me. What difference did it make? What did I care? I got scarred - sure! It can hurt a little when you fight your way out of the gutter.

An artsy film-noir. Don’t’ let the title fool you. This isn’t about Guys with sub-machine guns blasting way. It’s an overwritten story – with stylized sets – about a small time NYC hood getting muscled out of his two-bit, sea-side territory, by the big boys. It’s more character study than action film. The acting/cast provides most of the enjoyment:

• Barry Sullivan “the gangster” an ice-cold, man of few words (probably Alain Delon’s role model for his Le Samurai hit-man) brought down by his own pride.
• Belita - his selfish girlfriend.
• Alim Tamiroff (excellent), as the nervous store owner with the backbone a chocolate eclair.
• A who’s who of good character actors: Elisha Cook, Henry Morgan (as comic relief), Charles McGraw, Sheldon Leonard, and John Ireland (the addicted gambler).

Summary: Even at 85 minutes, this low-budget film drags in the middle and needed more action. But the excellent cast makes up for it. I liked it. Rating 3 of 4