Customer Reviews

Bullet for Joey [VHS]

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I must admit that I bought this disc because I was intrigued with the idea of casting Edward G. Robinson and George Raft as adversaries in the same film. Of course, these gentlemen are two of the "giants" of the crime/film noir genre. Unfortunately they are let down by a hackneyed script and mediocre production values.

The film takes place in Montreal during the "cold war", and "the other side" wants to kidnap a brilliant scientist and the details of a top-secret project he is working on. Their agent, who poses as a book-seller ( ruthless Peter Van Eyck ), hires an American gangster ( tough, no-nonsense George Raft )--exiled to Portugal--to come to Montreal, reassemble his old gang and grab the scientist. As this plan takes shape, a couple of related murders get the attention of an RCMP inspector ( a cerebral Edward G. Robinson ). Can the inspector foil the plot and save the scientist before he is whisked off somewhere behind the Iron Curtain ?

As I have indicated, this is not a very good film, but Messrs. Raft and Robinson still have a formidable presence. George Raft is perfect as a guy you really don't want to cross ! On the other hand, I agree that the great Edward G. Robinson is wasted here--this role couldn't have been much of a challenge for him, and it could have been played by any competent, journeyman actor. There is another reason to sit through this movie--Audrey Totter. As Mr. Raft's ex-girlfriend who is "recruited" to charm the scientist, Ms. Totter gives us another rivetting performance that has made her one of film noirs' best "femmes fatales".

I have yet to see a truly complete definition of "film noir" and I am certainly no expert. I suspect, however, that "A Bullet For Joey"s status as film noir could be open to debate.

The disc has a decent full-frame, black and white picture, and mono sound.

On the cover of the DVD is a terrific representation of Robinson, Raft and Totter, and all three are very watchable. However, on the back I see words like "pulls out all the stops for excitement and edge-of-your-seat suspense"--"explosive"--"breathtaking"--"pulse-pounding"--"crackling"--"rapid-fire"--"action-packed". If you swallow all this hype, I have some "Ocean-Front Property in Arizona" that you might be interested in !
Apart from the stars, this one is disappointingly routine.

"A Bullet For Joey" is really not a bad story, but the dialogue is extremely flat, boring and Edward G. Robinson and George Raft are simply going through the motions with their monotone voices. Neither actor seems like they really want to be in this movie.
Some nice police procedural activity is seen with mid 1950s radar systems in use.
For EGR and Raft fans only !!
I am still debating on whether to purchase it or not !

If there's ever an award for "Most Boring Film Noir Ever Made," this little stinker would be in strong contention. It is a miserable, plodding police procedural with essentially nothing to recommend it. About the best you can say is that the last 15 minutes are marginally less dull than the rest. Edward G. Robinson is squandered. Set in Montreal, the film has all the French-Canadian flavor of Frank Sinatra singing "O Canada."

what might have been a taut thriller is hampered by a meandering plot that sluggishly makes its way to a mawkish ending (Raft's calculating hood isn't such a bad guy after all). What little style and authority the film has is due to Robinson, a dynamic actor who is wasted in this film. If you are going to buy any of the MGM film noirs, get The Stranger or Woman in the Window, both with Robinson and both superior to this turkey.

Unfortunately I fell asleep during the movie when it was on TCM two weeks ago. This VHS tape will allow me to fill in the middle of a great movie. The package arrived in good condition and in good time from the seller. Unfortunately MGM/UA decided to omit the closing music which included a very good compelling song version by an unknown artist. I would certainly like to hear that again. I do not know where to find it.

A Bullet for Joey, 1955 film

The story begins in Montreal Canada. A man takes pictures surreptitiously. A Mountie is suspicious, but the hurdy-gurdy man gets away. Elsewhere in Lisbon Raphael Garcia buys a drink for Joe Victor. He has a job for him: kidnap a man for $100,000. Doctor Macklin visits the inspector to tell about that organ grinder. Joe Victor arrives in Canada as a new immigrant. They develop a plan to get close to Macklin. Joe calls his boys. Joyce is recruited. They try to identify that organ grinder. But its too late. One man photographs people leaving an electronics plant. One of the gang, Jack Allen, romances a secretary, Yvonne. Joyce's job is to get close to Macklin. She takes up golf, and lets Macklin advise her. Macklin then teaches her chess at his place. Yvonne's sister complains about her; Joyce hears about this. Yvonne figures out what Jack is up to, and breaks up with him. But she won't tell anyone.

Jack Allen asks for his money so he can return to Los Angeles. Inspector LeDuc notices that three murders involved Macklin. A murder creates a search for a light blue convertible; they get the fingerprints and find a match. Joyce gets closer to Macklin. Macklin is told about his secretary's murder. Victor knows how to handle this problem efficiently. The list of long-distance calls to Los Angeles provides a list of suspects. They also find a list of recent immigrants from Lisbon. [Note the technique used to follow a suspect in a car.] The crooks spot a telephone repairman, and are warned. Squirrels chewing on the lines again? LeDuc asks Macklin about Joyce, an American. Macklin visits Joyce's house and gets a glass of sherry. Joyce discovers what is happening, and gets a surprise.

Eric Hartmann takes both Macklin and Joyce to a freighter. A radio transmitter is used to track a truck. This truck is brought to a harbor and loaded onto a freighter. LeDuc tries to call headquarters but his signal dies out. What will Victor do next? Has he got the money? LeDuc and Hartmann have a discussion about this operation. Hartmann works on principle. Is he a master of deception? LeDuc asks Victor to do something decent for once. A distress signal is fired to warn the River Patrol. Eric walks Macklin out the door. Victor meets him and they converse loudly. There will be a happy ending for the good guys.

This is an interesting mixture of gangsters and spies that provide a mystery. It seems like a documentary in showing the techniques used in investigations and undercover operations.

The film noire was a bit tedious. However, compared to modern films, at least it did not last too long.
In some respects it, for some unknown reason, reminds me of the black and white first two seasons of "The Adventures of Superman," with the heavy music and the straight, if not boring cop, except that the cars were less interesting.
I never figured out why the gang of apparent communist lackeys did not just snatch the scientist rather than leaving beheld a trail of cadavers, but, then, "A bullet for Joey" could have been a thirty minute episode on a cop show.
Still the movie is not uninteresting and worth at least one watch.
The DVD quality was quite good in terms of picture and sound.

I was so glad to get a chance to watch Edward G. Robinson. I don't believe his works have been fully appreciated. He is really a great actor and more of his work should be brought to DVD so that people will have exposure. There are so many facets to him.

Not a great film, by any stretch of the imagination. Too stagey, creaky and obvious. But Robinson really delivers (the shot after he sends up the flare is absolutely stunning -- look at the resignation on that face!), and Audrey Totter does a nice job as the moll who turns out to be a soft touch. Those two performances turn a two star effort into a three star film.

Edward G. Robinson stars as Inspector Leduc of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, conducting an investigation into the murder of a Montreal constable in "A Bullet for Joey". Robinson soon realizes that he's stumbled into an intricately woven plot that involves the kidnapping of French Canadian physicist Dr. Macklin played by George Dolenz. The scientist apparently is working on cutting edge technology desired by the other side.

The kidnap plot is masterminded by rare book dealer Eric Hartman played by Peter van Eyck. He recruits deported mobster Joe Victor played by aging tough guy George Raft secreting him through customs. Raft assembles his old mob including now reluctant temptress Joyce Geary played by Audrey Totter who will try to seduce the unsuspecting Dr. Macklin.

Robinson is hot on the trail of Raft and his cronies who have abducted the poor doc and follows them onto a freighter bound for parts unknown. He tries using whatever means possible to thwart the plot, ultimately appealing to the patriotism of Raft.

Both Robinson and Raft slightly beyond their prime nonetheless do well in their portrayals in this decent flick.