Fingerman

Fingerman is a good example of a 50's style crime drama. The basic plot line is: a man who has spent a lifetime committing crimes is "back at work" after his latest release from prison. While committing a hold-up by hijacking a truck, he carelessly drops a pack of cigarettes on the road with his fingerprints all over them and is nailed by the feds. Given a choice to go free if he becomes a stool-pigeon, he has to decide if he'll work for the feds to nab a crime kingpin.

Although there are no major stars, the performances are mostly good. Frank Lovejoy specialized in this type of role, a cynical protagonist caught up in circumstances beyond his control. Forrest Tucker (as the crime boss) and Peggie Castle (as Lovejoy's girlfriend) do well also. Timothy Carey (one of the most bizarre actors in screen history) is a standout as a torpedo in Tucker's employ.

The direction is decent but not outstanding, yet there are a few good moments, such as when two of Tucker's henchmen toss an informer in front of an approaching vehicle. Much of the action occurs at night, thus adding to the "noir" feel of the movie.

The film is unquestionably dated, and may bore younger viewers who need explosions or special effects every five minutes, but if you like 50's crime drama, Fingerman is a good way to kill an hour-and-a-half.

Times have changed and one of the stranger examples is the poorly named film "Finger Man". While today such a movie would clearly incite giggles (especially since it starred Frank Lovejoy), back in the day it was a taut crime drama...and perhaps one worth your time.

When the story begins, ex-con Casey Martin (Lovejoy) is identified as participating in a robbery. However, instead of locking him up, the authorities offer to give him a walk...if he'll help them catch the mobster, Dutch Becker (Forrest Tucker). Martin is no squealer...but when he learns that his sister is addicted to smack...heroin provided to her by Becker, Casey decides to help bring him to justice. As he puts it, it's a choice between 'life in prison or probably a bullet in the head! However, he goes very slow...very easy in order not to scare Dutch off and so that he'll win his trust.

While the film lacks the dark look and film angles used in classic film noir, it is tough enough to be noir...and the story is well worth seeing. Not among the very best crime films of the era, but still quite good. Lovejoy was a terrific actor--too bad he died so young.

The question is asked by Lucille in her last scene, as she lies in the hospital to be detoxicated, and she is in hell. She is one of many female victims of Dutch Becker (Forest Tucker) who "owns" fallen girls "body and soul" all over the country, according to the police only in nine states. Frank Lovejoy as a frequent jailbird gets a chance for a clean slate if he helps the police to frame Dutch Becker to make it stick. That is the plot.

It's a grim film of spartan conciseness, and there are many interesting minor details that are important but risk getting bypassed by the action. All the scenes with Gladys Baker (Peggy Castle) are captivating, especially the last one, the longest shot in the film. In fact, it's all the expressive scenes with the women (and they are not many) that makes the film magic and of lasting interest beyond the limits of its time and age.

Frank Lovejoy reminds in this film very much of Eddie Constantine, the forerunner of James Bond but with a school of hard knocks behind him and a scarred face, that ultimately ruined his career. Frank Lovejoy has no scars, but he does have knuckles and uses them frequently. You simply have to love him, and the more for each trouble he starts.

The music is also outstanding, excellently composed and suited perfectly to every scene. This is a great film on a small level that will outshine most film of the period that were made to be more spectacular. This is a noir down to basics and extremely efficient as such.

Does the perfect crime exist? Casey Martin (Frank Lovejoy) appears to be intent on discovering the hard way that it doesn't. Having just spent nine years behind bars, he executes an efficient highway heist, only to snooker himself via a discarded cigarette pack, falling foul of both the police and the Treasury Department as a repercussion.

Lovejoy is offered the choice of a lifetime in the slammer, or a liaison with the good guys to bring down big time operator Dutch Becker (Forrest Tucker). Just one small problem....he's likely to catch a bullet, or six doing it. At the risk of winding up with more holes than a colander, he takes his chance to nail the ruthless, string pulling kingpin.

The former jailbird launches himself gamely into the double dealing, fast talking, hard drinking, heavy smoking, moll mangling, fist flailing, sharp shooting, underhand, underworld sewer dominated by heavy weight Tucker, replete with his entourage of hoods, hookers, hostesses and hangers-on. Tucker is the manipulative button pusher behind illegal hooch and gambling rackets across nine states, who, in a calm, reassuring manner asks only for honesty and loyalty from those on his payroll. Unsurprisingly, any disloyalty results in rather more than a fatherly arm around the shoulder and a quiet corrective word of advice.

Access to the big shot's tawdry activities involves developing an intimacy with beautiful Peggie Castle, who finds herself walking on increasingly thin ice as a consequence. Lovejoy also experiences a seething reacquaintance with Tucker's sidekick, long faced, lugubrious and latterly lachrymose Timothy Carey.

Not outstanding or exceptional, but consistently engaging and entertaining. Finger lickin' good!

Frank Lovejoy is a three-time loser whose fingerprints have just turned up at the site of a truck heist. The Feds give him a choice: a lifetime in prison or help them get the dirt on mob head Forrest Tucker. Lovejoy has never talked, but when he sees what happened to his sister, Evelyn Eaton, he agrees. He gets Peggy Castle, with whom he has begun an affair, to introduce him to the big man.

Harold Schuster directs this as a straight, tough, ugly crime drama, where everyone is twitchy, except for Tucker, who talks emotionally of loyalty and honesty and has people killed. Lovejoy plays the role as a man about to explode at any moment, and knocks a few people down with his fists.

It's a very handsomely directed B, but it's too cheap and it came too late for anyone to break out. Schuster had directed some terrific westerns, and would soon get his shot in the Tarzan franchise.... and then settle down to TV work. Likewise Tucker. As for Lovejoy, he had the look and voice for the RKO B noirs, but that was five or ten years in the past; he already was performing on TV, and he would die in 1962, just 50 years old.