Melvin Purvis G-MAN

Although "Melvin Purvis G-MAN" had its premier on television in North America, there's evidence to suggest it played in theaters in other countries. The movie was backed by American-International Pictures, for one thing. And the production values are generally good, with a lot of period detail ranging from clothing to automobiles. But whether seen on television or in theaters, I would guess most viewers at the time were disappointed with the movie. Although the title claims the movie will be a grand look at Melvin Purvis, he is actually in less of the movie than you'd think. At times he's an afterthought. And because of his limited use, we don't get a good exploration of his character. As the title figure, Dale Robertson tries, but even he can't juice up his limited character. There was a sequel made to this movie in the following year, but judging from this movie I'll think I'll give it a pass.

This film was shot in Nicolaus, California. This is about 30 minutes north of Sacramento. They used the Nicolaus Hotel for the big final shot. The town of Nicolaus was used for some of the chase scenes. The building was over 100 years old. It was owned by the Barner family. I watched it being made and as a child I collected the emptied bullet casings, (I still have a few). My best friends were in it at the very start as 2 kids stealing ice from the iceman. Their names were Gerry Barner and Bruce Davidson. Gerry is now a cop for West Sacramento P.D and Bruce is now a cop at UC Davis P.D.

Mike Wahl

Agent Melvin Purvis (Dale Robertson) is placed in charge of running down notorious killer Machine Gun Kelly (Harris Yulin), and sets out to do just that.

I have been on a gangster kick lately, watching the films I could on Dillinger, Pretty Boy, Bonnie and Clyde and others. When I saw this was directed by Dan Curtis, I just had to add it to the list. I am not sure how well known he was at the time, but today is is something of a legend.

It is also interesting that this was written by John Milius, the same man who wrote "Dillinger". He apparently recycled some of the script, most noticeably the scene where Purvis is referred to as a G-Man for the first time. I would love to see clips back to back with that scene from both films -- delivered in such a similar way by two very different actors.

Harris Yulin recalls Dan Curtis being someone who was light on direction and was more concerned with getting the right casting. Yulin initially had a smaller role, but was able to step up to Machine Gun Kelly when the first choice, Geoffrey Lewis, became unavailable.

The violence of this film is not nearly on the level it is in "Dillinger", but that makes it neither better or worse. Just different. Both films are an interesting take on Purvis' career. Both inflated, of course, but interesting.

Right around the time that the carefully built image of the FBI by its former director J. Edgar Hoover was falling apart in those days of Watergate some films recalling the glory days of the FBI were made and made about Melvin Purvis who was known for bringing in and bringing down some of the legendary figures of crime. Dale Robertson plays the title role and his target in this film is George 'Machine Gun' Kelly.

As is pointed out in the film and in real life Kelly was really a small time hood who decided to step up in class. His wife and manager Margaret Blye decided to go for some really big bucks and she and the gang they assembled decide to go for kidnapping. Since the Lindbergh baby kidnapping this was a fear among any who had a few dollars in those Depression years. Harris Yulin as Kelly, Blye and the rest break into a swank dinner party and kidnap Thatcher Covington. That name reeks of old money and he's played by Dick Sargent.

Sargent and Blye really stand out. Blye is tough and shrewd and she probably married beneath her. Yulin is really nothing without her, he wouldn't know who or where to shoot those choppers if she didn't tell him how.

As for Sargent the words rich airhead comes to mind. It's true that in real life Covington would not aid the FBI in their search for the kidnappers unless he was allowed in on the hunt. Truly if the gang had killed he would have been no loss. You have to see a crackling coda scene at the end of the film with him and Blye. Even in custody she really reduces him to the idiot he is.

Melvin Purvis G-Man is a good retelling of the Machine Gun Kelly apprehension and Kelly did in fact coin the phrase G-Man to denote the FBI agents.

Dale Robertson as Purvis pursues Harris Yulin as Machine Gun Kelly in this cartoonish boy's adventure story. Yulin may be a psychopath, but he has the unswerving loyalty of his wife, Margaret Blye.

I write that it is cartoonish, and it usually is, with Purvis playing a long game and outthinking everyone else. There are occasional outbursts of real anger, particularly around Dick Sargent, a kidnap victim released for half a million dollars who trades information on the gang for the right to go along and shoot at the funny animals.

In reality, Purvis was in constant conflict with the staff around J. Edgar Hoover, who appears to have been jealous of his publicity. He eventually resigned, returned to private life, and later served in the Provost Marshall's office during the Second World War, and still later helped establish the protocols for the Nuremberg trials. He died in 1960 from self-inflicted gunshot wounds that may have been accidental.