Chicago Syndicate

I guess the best crime dramas that Sam Katzman produced were those directed by the likes of Fred S Sears and William Castle; those movies seemed serious, not clumsy, lousy, such as the costume swashbucklers produced by Katzman, or even most of his westerns. MIAMI STORY, MIAMI EXPOSE, INSIDE DETROIT, RUMBLE ON THE DOCKS, CHICAGO SYNDICATE. I agree that those films propose more or less the same schemes, in addition to the expose lines, undercover cops, gang wars...Nothing new actually, but excellent, if you consider the fact that Sam Katzman produced those films. For once, Sam Katzman did not deceive me. EARTH VS FLYING SAUCERS was famous, thanks to Ray Harryhausen's special effects. Paul Stewart as awesome as he was in Lewis Allen's noir for Paramount co starring Alan Ladd.

Because this film starred Dennis O'Keefe (who was wonderful in his Film Noir appearances), I was sure to see it. And fortunately, the overall effort was exciting and engaging--making it a decent later example of the genre. While not as bloody and earthy as many Noir films, due to the head of the mob priding himself on being a well-spoken gentleman, nevertheless is a decent film of this type.

The film begins with a contract killing so stop an accountant from spilling his guts about organized crime. A citizen's group decides that they need to try a new way to infiltrate the mob--send in a freelance agent who isn't a cop or part of the Treasury or Justice Departments. So Dennis O'Keefe is recruited and he is able to eventually rise very high in the ranks--and leading to a wonderful showdown.

I think the reason I like O'Keefe in these films is because he's so ugly--or at best ordinary looking. For Noir, this is great, as pretty boys and the like are NOT something you'd expect. So, when Edmund O'Brien isn't available, O'Keefe is a good substitute.

Full of excellent intrigue, an interesting and unusual plot and sure to please fans of the genre, CHICAGO SYNDICATE nearly earns an 8--it's that good.

FYI--It is interesting that in one scene where they are standing outside a movie theater, the picture listed on the marquee is ON THE WATERFRONT--another film about mobsters which came out at about the same time as CHICAGO SYNDICATE.

I saw the show on Turner Classic Movies. The plot was entertaining. It kicks off with a murder of a mob accountant who gave inside info to a newspaper man (the "Syndicate" didn't like that.) The newsman then gets some leading Chicago people plus lawmen together to try to "break the Syndicate wide open." They persuade Barry Amsterdam (Dennis O'Keefe), an aspiring accountant dreaming of starting his own business, to infiltrate the mob and get the lowdown on the crooks. He ends up doing an amazing job, for an accountant! But the use of real street scenes is what made this a very interesting movie for a Chicago history buff like me. You can see many downtown locations (theaters, buildings, bridges, rivers, street signs), era shots (men in hats, big cars, 50s trains & buses) and dialog about real places (Halsted, Ohio, The Palmer House, Maxwell Street). Lot's of fun!

A Good Production and a Decent Cast Can't Raise this Functionary, Pedestrian Picture from the Prolific 1950's Police Procedurals.

Film-Noir had All but Given Up the Ghost with the Eisenhower Era Emphasis on Big-Brother Watchdog Law Enforcement Forever "Looking Out For You".

Noir's Grit was Increasingly Being Scrubbed by the Booming Decade's Affluence.

The Odd Thing in this one is that Female Firebrands Abbe Lane and Allison Hayes are at the Core of Anything that Makes it Special.

Both Broads are in Fine Form with Clinging Dresses and Firecracker Personalities.

Some Scenes Stand Out, like the Climax Chase, and Abbe Lane Taking a Beating.

Of Minor Interest is Bandleader Xavier Cugat in a Speaking Part.

But the Film Struggles to have an Edge and Succumbs to Sedentary Situations Concerning Book-Keeping and other Mundane Aspects, like Paul Stewart and His Ma.

Slightly Above Average because of Lane, Hayes, and Stewart.

But Dennis O' Keefe seems Worn-Out and Past His Prime.

Good Street Scenes with Bigger than Big Cars and Chicago Locations also Help

Worth a Watch.

The best part of "Chicago Syndicate" for me was seeing Abbe Lane and Xavier Cugat! I remember them from television and their chihuahuas. In fact, I think they fought over them in the divorce.

Dennis O'Keefe is Barry Amsterdam who goes undercover to get dirt on organized crime. An accountant has just been murdered as he was about to tell what he knew. A citizen's group sends in O'Keefe, with the promise of a $60,000 fee.

Amsterdam wins the trust of the main man (Paul Stewart), and he sets out to find his secret ledger and anything else that will serve as evidence. He meets lovely Sue Morton, who turns out to be the sister of the accountant who was killed. She joins Barry in bringing down the criminals.

In the late '40s and '50s, many films were made with a narration, as this one was. Usually they are pretty dry. This one wasn't, with some good scenes and a nice performance by O'Keefe. Abbe Lane plays the mobster's girlfriend, and she sings with. Benny Chico's (Cugat's) band. She was a knockout.