Customer Reviews

Underworld Story [VHS]

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
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1 star:		(0)

 

 

The more I watch classic films, the more I discover what a great year 1950 was in the movie business. Here's another good film, and one many people are probably unfamiliar with. This one revolves around the newspaper business.

Dan Duryea, as usual, is interesting as "Mike Reese," a bad guy-turned-good guy journalist. He is joined in the cast by Herbert Marshall, Gale Storm (one of the great names in show business and who will forever be "My Little Margie" to those of us who were around in the '50s), Howard Da Silva and Michael O'Shea.

Of the above-mentioned, Da Silva was the most fascinating, as the brutal mob boss "Carl Durham." He only had a minor role, but some of his lines were outstanding and his role was memorable. Da Silva was a great actor for film noirs. This isn't really a noir, but it's close. Marshall was just fine as the newspaper owner.

The film was not kind to the newspaper business, so some media-minded national film critics (who probably had columns in daily papers) didn't like this film for that reason. Nonetheless, it's a powerful film and well-acted. Too bad it's never been offered on DVD.

"The Underworld Story" concerns a yellow journalist who publishes an exposé that results in a gangland killing.

Mike Reese (Duryea) is blacklisted for this and his supposed connection to a mob boss. When he can't find another job Reese buys a half-interest in a small New England paper by getting the cash from gambling kingpin Carl Durham (da Silva)-- the very man he was wrongly accused of associating with. Reese then tries to profit from the murder of a newpaper magnate's daughter.


As of 2/09, "Underworld Story" was not available on DVD.

Also recommended:
Richard Widmark plays one of his "patented" gangster types in the shadowy true crime drama, THE STREET WITH NO NAME (1950). (VHS edition) (DVD edition)


Parenthetical number preceding title is a 1 to 10 viewer poll rating found at a film resource website.

(6.9) The Underworld Story (1950) - Dan Duryea/Herbert Marshall/Gale Storm/Howard Da Silva/Michael O'Shea/Alan Hale Jr. (uncredited: Ned Glass)

The story concerns a wealthy newspaper man yielding to corruption to save face and protect his son. Great performances through out this noir gem.