Cry Tough

"Nothin' shakin' like the bacon, and that's taken."

Great line from Linda Cristal.

This film is directed by Paul Stanley, who only directed a few films in a predominantly television- oriented career.

Cry Tough is a story of Puerto Ricans who live in the barrio during one blazing hot summer. It doesn't feature much in the way of Puerto Ricans: John Saxon (Italian), Linda Cristal (Argentinian), Joseph Calleia (Maltese), Harry Townes (Southern), Barbara Luna (a mix but some Spanish) - need I go on.

Saxon, very handsome, plays Miguel, recently out of prison and not particularly welcomed home by his father (Calleia), who feels he betrayed his family and Catholic upbringing, but the rest of the family is happy to see him.

Though Miguel wants to go straight, he soon finds that difficult. Very predictable.

This is a film about the difference in generational attitudes. The immigrants believe in hard, honest work, though they remain lower class, in often overcrowded circles. The next generation is impatient to get ahead and often willing to cut corners.

There is nothing glamorous here - it's dark and sweaty. The actors do a good job. Linda Cristal is quite sexy as definitely not a one-man woman.

I don't think this is a groundbreaking film as another reviewer does, but it's not terrible.

John Saxon plays tough Puerto Rican kid from the Barrio District of New York who gets out of jail with the hope of going straight, only to fall right back in with the criminal element. He marries Cuban firebrand Linda Cristal to legally keep her in the country, but has a rocky reunion with his father, who loves his son despite his shame. Predictable, tolerable melodrama combining familial elements with standard underworld crime scenario. These hoods seem a might tame compared to the mobsters we would see on the screen just a few years later. Saxon, of Italian descent in real-life, is exceptionally handsome, though he can't get a grip on the proper voice to use--and his character is schizophrenically written anyway: cool and unruffled one minute, judo-chopping the enemy the next. Saxon always seems to be loitering (thoughtfully) in alleyways and hallways, yet the sets are too clean and unconvincing, as is the violence. A few of the relationships are bracing, particularly that between Saxon and hard-working father Joseph Calleia (who is excellent). Based on Irving Shulman's novel, the production may have benefited from the new permissiveness of the early 1960s, though there are good scenes, amusingly 'arty' camera set-ups, and solid supporting work, particularly from Calleia and Cristal. ** from ****

I haven't seen this Flick ! I keep asking TCM to show it. It is interesting in that the main character ,John Saxon, was a member of the Amboy Dukes, a Brooklyn street gang in an eponymous bestselling book of the post war J/D era. The Amboy Dukes was filmed as "City Across the River" - it was Tony Curtis's first film appearance. It was a passable, somewhat tepid version of the famous novel. This one, "Cry Tough" is a common book on the collector's vintage PB market, but this film has never been on VHS, LD, much less DVD. A reviewer above states he saw it on TCM. I've requested it from their library, to no avail. A rarely seen film. Lets get it out on DVD, it can't be worse than a lot of the junk available ! It may be a "Film Noir" in style, "City Across the River" is classified thus.

Director Paul Stanley's sweltering, excitingly mounted, street tough 50s crime drama 'Cry Tough' finds huskily handsome juvenile jailbird Miguel's (John Saxon) earnest attempts to go straight erotically thwarted by his doomed attraction to feisty femme fatal Sarita (Linda Cristal). 'Cry Tough' is a jazzy, hip little, jive-talking crime flick wherein the sordidly oppressive mid-summer heat of the barrio is doubled by the volatile sparks generated by the sultry sin-siren Cristal and her broody, twin-fisted stud Saxon! The film's terse climax is genuinely exciting, and 'Cry Tough' has a big enough heart for you to care about the misbegotten fates of these tormented, hard luck lovers! 'There 'aint nuthin shakin' but the bacon, and that's already taken!' Amen, sister Sarita!!!!

There Weren't Many "Minority" Focused Films, Up to and Including 1959 and Some Years After in the Catalog of American-Films.

The African-Americans Did have Their Own All-Black Productions that were Never-Shown Outside the Imaginary, but Real, Borders Beyond the Confined Community.

This Look-See at the PR Neighborhoods, was Rare Indeed, and Probably Meant to "Border-Break" the Tradition.

Produced and Distributed by the Progressive/Independent Studio "Allied Artists". The Slick Amazing-Looking Production, was Directed by Paul Stanley who Made Only a Few Films Outside His Over 100 TV Credits. This is One of Them.

The Accomplishments Included are a Glossy Sheen of the Presentation, an Engaging Story of the "Classic-Ethnic-Type".

A Recently-Released from Jail (John Saxon), a Young-Adult Returns to His Over-Crowded Home, where His Father Holds a Grudge, Disappointed in His Son's Betrayal to His Family. Becoming a Criminal that is Counter to His Righteous Catholic Raising.

Few Punches are Pulled.

The Movie Pushes the Boundaries of the Code by Slightly Stepping Over that Line on Occasion and Viewed Today Adds an Authentic Aspect that Does Not Go Unnoticed.

In Retrospect the Film is Engaging, Cutting-Edge and a Dark-Entertainment that Grips the Grind-House and Elevates it to an "Artistic-Level" Not Often Seen at the Time in the Genre.

While this May Seem Over-Reaching for Praise, it is Not Hyperbole and the Movie Displays and Performs as Much.

John Saxon is Fine as the Troubled, Doomed Anti-Hero and His Performance Here No Doubt is a Starting-Gate Success...

Linda Cristal is Equally and Perhaps Even More Magnetic in a Crucial Role as a Hostess that Captures Saxon, who Can't Let-Go, and is Devoted to Her to the Very End.

She Wears some Stunning, Sexy Outfits that Leap of the Screen.

She and John Saxon, along with Fine Support, Especially Joseph Calleia as the Father.

All Involved in the Overall Production Deliver the Goods.

But, All that Said...Most Critics as Well as Casual Viewers have Not Warmed Up to the Standard Story and are Ho-Hum About the Movie in General.

This Review is to the Contrary. It's a Hidden-Gem that is Definitely...

Worth a Watch.