L'auto sanglante

The first half of this modest 69-minute movie tells, in semi-documentary fashion, of the training of rookie cops in early 1950s Los Angeles. Needless to say, all these rookies are white males but it's the "dated" quality of the movie which lends it a curiosity value as an artifact of its time. Police buffs should enjoy looking over the equipment, the uniforms, the training techniques, the investigation methods, etc.

A let's-catch-the-cop-killers plot takes over in the second half. It's minor stuff but affords an opportunity to look over a cast soon to find greater success in TV westerns. There's Robert ("Wagon Train") Horton and Jeff ("Jefferson Drum") Richards and -- in a small part -- Chuck ("The Rifleman") Connors. Rounding out the cast of cops are Ralph Meeker and Keenan Wynn. There's a certain "fetish" appeal in seeing these men in boots and leather jackets and motorcycle pants, and Meeker, Horton, and Richards also do a "beefcake" scene by a lake where they appear in swimsuits. (Richards must have tipped the wardrobe department to give him the snuggest-fitting suit.)

A few scenes appear to be shot on actual L.A. streets but much of it is recognizable as the MGM back-lot. Somewhere, on one of those hills, Robert Horton would soon be stripped to his shorts and tortured by North Korean guards in "Prisoner of War."

Director Fred Wilcox later helmed the classic "Forbidden Planet."

"Code Two" is a film that lost money at the box office. Despite that as well as a few clichés in the story, it's a dandy film and worth your time.

The movie follows a trio of men, particularly Chuck O'Flair (Ralph Meeker), from the police academy to their first assignment in Los Angeles. Chuck is a very stereotypical guy--much like the sorts of guys William Haines played in the 1920s and 30s. In other words, he is very skilled but even more full of himself! And, when it comes to women, he thinks they'll all swoon at his boorish ways. However, his obnoxious veneer is challenged when his partner is murdered on the job...and Chuck not only blames himself but insists on tracking down the killers.

This film runs at under 70 minutes and its stars are Meeker and Keenan Wynn...minor stars but typical of the sorts of assignments they'd get from the studio. Look past how obnoxious the writer made Chuck (that is a major problem in the film) and you'll be able to enjoy a decent cop film.

I saw this movie as a kid when i was about 13 or so. I remeber this as one of the coolest movies I have ever seen. I am sure, now it would seem a little less dramatic, but it has stayed with me all these years. There is one scene where the truck hijackers are stopped by a cycle cop and when they get the chance to knock him out they do. They then take him and put him under the tires of the big rig and {pretty violent for back then} back up over him. A young chuck Conners, Ralph Meeker and Keenan Wynn make this a must see for biker, crime and film noir fans. I believe Ted Turner owns this movie and I wish he would release it on video. Enjoy the film if you can ever see it.

This is a decent old movie with several future TV stars. It even has an almost unrecognizable Chuck Connors who looks like a teenager. It depicts the training that the motorcycle officer take. The actual plot is pretty weak but that's OK. I have a pretty good copy of it from TCM.

I am trying to remember the name of a similar 50s B&W movie about LAPD recruits who end up on motorcycles. In an early scene, one of the soon to be cops is a swimming pool cleaner and flirts with a babe in a swimsuit. This is about all I can vaguely remember except that there were some decent motorcycle scenes.

Anybody have a clue on the title or any of the actors?

Have for a while been on a roll tracking down and watching not so well known (near-obscure in some cases) films from filmographies of actors/actresses that varied from very famous to practically forgotten today. In 'Code Two's' case Ralph Meeker and Keenan Wynn were the best-known of the cast. Also have always really liked the genre and liked the concept, so they were further reasons for wanting to see 'Code Two'. If it weren't for me seeing a few of Meeker's films recently, this film's existence would still be unknown to me.

On the whole, 'Code Two' is worth tracking down, even non-motorcycling fans should find some worth (speaking as one but appreciate them), and that it is near-forgotten today is not that deserved. It is not a great film, or an essential, and is a film of two halves in my view, one a good deal stronger than the other. There are though a lot of strong things about it and anybody that loves the genre should see it for at least completest sake.

'Code Two' isn't perfect. Some of the first half is nostalgic and amusing and the atmosphere of the academy is done accurately, but it is also rather exposition-heavy, thin on plot and takes too long to set up. The second half is certainly much better, but it did mean that it was like seeing two films in one and of two different tones, one more nostalgic and light-hearted and the other grittier and more tough.

Meeker does give a confident performance in the lead and it is the sort of role that suits him well, sadly though Chuck is agreed quite obnoxious and not easy to get behind. The very end felt on the cheesy side and jarred by the quite suspenseful build up.

However, 'Code Two' has a very effectively noir-ish look in especially the second half. The semi-docmentary look of the truly startling and quite brutal opening is also incredibly effective and hits hard. The music serves its purpose well and fits at least, not over-emphasising the mood. The direction is assured and a good mix of affectionate and unyielding on the most part, apart from some lapses in momentum in more expositionary moments. The motorcycles are very cool and will be a treat for anybody that has an interest in them.

The script has entertainment value and tautness and while the first half was for me flawed the film did start off brilliantly with an opening that as said hits hard. The second half, also as already said, is the stronger and much more consistent half. It isn't earth shattering originality wise, but more than makes up for it with its tight pace, its grim tension and its non-holding back atmosphere. Meeker, despite his character, carries the film well and is very well supported by Wynn (as a contender for the most interesting character), sympathetic Elaine Stewart and Robert Horton.

All in all, uneven but above average curiosity. 6/10