The Boss of Big Town

Considering that the film was made by tiny PRC, it sure could have been a lot worse! I know this isn't exactly a glowing endorsement, but it is better than about 75% of the films I've seen from this so-called 'Poverty Row' studio! Now I know this isn't going to get you to rush to see it, BUT if you are bored you can download it for free from the link on IMDb.

The film begins with mobsters muscling in on the produce business. When people refuse to play along with them, 'accidents' happen! The problem is that although the police can catch the individual gang members, the identity of Mr. Big is uncertain--and eventually calls for some undercover work.

As another reviewer pointed out, the message from this film was very patriotic and was emphasizing the importance of price controls and self-sacrifice during time of war. Unfortunately, the film just doesn't make that point very interestingly and the boss' sudden change of heart made zero sense at all---leading to a very unsatisfying finale. Still, the acting wasn't bad and it wasn't bad...just not all that good either.

It's a 62 minute shortie distributed by Pathe Pictures, in this case, made by Producers Releasing Corp. Production quality.. the picture and the sound are just TERRIBLE, but I guess we're lucky to have this one still around in any condition. John Litel is Mike Lynn, a local bigshot who is kidnapped and brought to the home of a thug, played by John Miljan. The thugs want a cut of all the local commerce going on. Florence Rice is Linda Gregory, the nosy newspaper reporting who wants to bust the story wide open, but they convince her to hold off, so the workers' families won't be harmed. (Rice would only make one more film after this one... wasn't working out, I guess.) The story trudges along, exactly as expected. Jean Brooks is in here as "Iris", a supporting player. Brooks was a familiar face from the "Falcon" detective films, but the actress died quite young. According to wikipedia she was once married to erich von stroheim ! It's okay... nothing to write home about. Even HB Warner, who was so GREAT in Lost Horizon (and everything else he did) is pretty cardboard in this one. Part of a three-film set from DSSP.

This B film from PRC Studios which did nothing but B films was brought out quickly after Pearl Harbor to emphasize the importance of rationing and price control. The wholesale food and produce markets have always been a target of racketeering. During the Thirties one of Tom Dewey's investigations was against Ciro Terranova the Artichoke king who controlled several wholesale markets. But with the war you have the added dimension of war profiteering and hence the people involved were considered traitors.

John Litel, usually a most competent supporting player, is the lead in The Boss Of The Big Town. He's in charge of the wholesale market which John Miljan the racketeer is threatening. Being stymied in all directions, Litel decides it's better to join them than fight them. Of course he's really going undercover to find out who the boss really is.

It's not just that The Boss Of The Big Town has the usual shoddy production values associated with PRC films, but the script really makes no kind of sense at all. Especially during the final confrontation scene with The Boss Of Big Town where Litel tells him something that brings about a 180 degree change in attitude. A little too late for a man who Litel only seconds earlier was calling a '6th columnist' and the object of that term was lapping it up.

And if you can't figure out who the boss is you have not seen too many of these films.

"In this rousing crime drama, a hard-nosed gang of criminals attempts to move in on local food distribution channels. Vowing to break down their strong-arming operation is heroic city market official Michael Lynn (John Litel), who hopes to disband the racket by removing the operation head from power. Lynn's scheme is to infiltrate the gang as an incompetent stooge on the government's payroll, unmask the leader's identity, and then make his deadly move," according to the DVD sleeve's synopsis.

Mr. Litel gets to play the leading man, but in a low-budget, under-rehearsed quickie. Perky reporter Florence Rice (as Linda Gregory), in her penultimate screen appearance, is Litel's main female interest. Ms. Rice wears very TALL headgear. "The Boss of Big Town" offers some good-looking 1940s female fashion, with a California pool scene, and Jean Brooks (as Iris Moore).

There is also an opportunity to see Howard Hughes protégée David Bacon (as Dr. Gil Page). In real life, Mr. Bacon would soon be found stabbed to death, in an odd, unsolved Hollywood murder. Silent film veterans H.B. Warner (as Jeffrey Moore) and John Miljan (as Kenneth Craige), along with future veteran Frank Ferguson (as Bram Hart), are among those who fail to generate any additional excitement.

*** The Boss of Big Town (12/7/42) Arthur Dreifuss ~ John Litel, Florence Rice, David Bacon, H.B. Warner

Mostly sluggish, and dull despite some ok performances, and a enjoyable romantic angle. I was certainly glad it was a short film.