This United Artists release in 1957 was certainly a timely one for the headlines. I well remember back in the day the Labor Racketeering hearings in the US Senate headed by John McClellan with Robert F. Kennedy as the counsel and his brother and next president also sitting on the committee. Organized crime's involvement with labor unions was a big news at the time.
In the fictional union talked about in this film which we never learn what it is or what industry it is for, honest president Dick Foran is framed for the murder of his friend whom he was sending to the state's attorney with information. The mobbed up vice president Douglas Kennedy then takes over and the strong arm tactics against the membership and the businesses begin.
Fortunately for Foran the state's attorney is Brian Keith who is a man of conscience who actually wants to see justice as opposed to rolling up convictions. Even though he's being mentioned for governor Keith starts questioning his own conviction first with a voice identification of Foran.
Said identification was bogus the product of comedian Buddy Lewis who works in mob clubs. Also derelict Elisha Cook, Jr. after giving perjured testimony is killed. It's a race against time as the mob starts plugging up potential leaks in their usual fashion.
Besides those mentioned three women have prominent roles. Phyllis Coates as Keith's wife and Beverly Garland and Beverly Tyler as a pair of B girls who are witnesses against Foran.
Chicago Confidential is a well paced B picture with an impressive cast giving a good ensemble effort. A historical curiosity as well given the time the film was made.
Chicago Confidential
1957
Action / Adventure / Crime / Drama / Film-Noir
Chicago Confidential
1957
Action / Adventure / Crime / Drama / Film-Noir
Plot summary
In the Windy City, the mob infiltrates a powerful union.
Uploaded by: FREEMAN
March 09, 2024 at 05:00 AM
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Top cast
Tech specs
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Labor Racketeering was big news at the time
Mobsters frame innocent union boss
The mob has infiltrated a union and are about to be ratted out to the state's attorney. They rub out the songbird and make a patsy out of the union's leader. Things look bad for the condemned man, but his girlfriend never gives up trying to exonerate him. Good film with lots of old familiar faces.
union shenanigans result in murder
A cast of familiar faces appear in Chicago Confidential, a 1957 B movie. The stars are Brian Keith, Beverly Garland, Dick Foran, Elisha Cook Jr., John Hamilton, and Phyllis Coates. The latter two stars were in the TV "Superman" in case you don't recognize their names.
The story is told with a narration, semidocumentary style. This type of film was popular for a time, but to me, it's very dry and too "Dragnet." A union accountant who has been keeping two sets of books calls DA Jim Fremont (Keith) and announces he is bringing in proof that the mob has infiltrated the union and is stealing from it. As could have been predicted as he starts walking to the DA's house in the dark, briefcase and folders in hand, he doesn't make it.
The bad guys set up one of the good union guys, Artie Blaine (Foran) to take the fall for the murder, and they do a decent job of it, using a drunk (Elisha Cook, Jr.) who finds the murder weapon as a witness to go to the DA once they clean him up. Then they discredit Blaine's fiancée (Garland) on the witness stand. The noose tightens.
Fairly formulaic, with a couple of interesting things - one is an impressionist, and the other is the use of a machine that recognizes speech patterns.
I interviewed Beverly Garland some years ago, so I always try to watch her films. She was a vibrant, funny, wonderful lady with a million stories. It makes me sad that she's no longer with us, but at least we can enjoy her film and TV work. For me she's a bright spot in "Chicago Confidential."