I liked this film and I am sure part of this is because I really do love the Warner Brothers gangster films of the 1930s. Sure, they were very predictable, but the stock company of actors (Bogart, Cagney, Robinson and others) and writing have made these movies timeless--something that can still be enjoyed into the 21st century. And this film has many of these wonderful elements--including Bogart in his "pre-nice guy" part of his career, as the evil mob boss.
However, this Warner formula is a little different because of some of the plot elements and George Brent is playing a different sort of character. Brent usually did not play in gangster films even though he was a Warner contract player, and the guy he plays in this film really isn't a villain or exactly a good guy either. In many ways I appreciated that he was more a "typical guy who rises above when the chips are down"(how's that for using the lingo?). This doesn't always work well, though, as Brent's character just isn't very consistent--ranging from a dull-witted hothead who thinks he can take on the mob single-handedly to a wimp who willingly serves the mob to save his own sorry skin. With a bit of a re-write, this character could have been great and elevated the movie to greatness. As is, he's very interesting but very flawed.
Another flawed character is the Special Prosecutor. Again and again he begs and threatens but can't understand why truckers won't give evidence against the mobsters. However, EVERY TIME that anyone talks(except at the end), they are either dead or beaten almost to death and the Prosecutor's Office did NOTHING to help!!! Duh!!!
As for the plot, it's not exactly the typical gangster film with hoods knocking each other off or selling bootleg hooch (like in THE ROARING TWENTIES or THE PUBLIC ENEMY) but is about mob control of the trucking industry. The steps by which they muscle into the union and the lengths they go to destroy the opposition were actually pretty interesting and timely. By being a little different, the film really kept my interest. A very good film, but certainly not a great one due to a few plot holes.
However, this Warner formula is a little different because of some of the plot elements and George Brent is playing a different sort of character. Brent usually did not play in gangster films even though he was a Warner contract player, and the guy he plays in this film really isn't a villain or exactly a good guy either. In many ways I appreciated that he was more a "typical guy who rises above when the chips are down"(how's that for using the lingo?). This doesn't always work well, though, as Brent's character just isn't very consistent--ranging from a dull-witted hothead who thinks he can take on the mob single-handedly to a wimp who willingly serves the mob to save his own sorry skin. With a bit of a re-write, this character could have been great and elevated the movie to greatness. As is, he's very interesting but very flawed.
Another flawed character is the Special Prosecutor. Again and again he begs and threatens but can't understand why truckers won't give evidence against the mobsters. However, EVERY TIME that anyone talks(except at the end), they are either dead or beaten almost to death and the Prosecutor's Office did NOTHING to help!!! Duh!!!
As for the plot, it's not exactly the typical gangster film with hoods knocking each other off or selling bootleg hooch (like in THE ROARING TWENTIES or THE PUBLIC ENEMY) but is about mob control of the trucking industry. The steps by which they muscle into the union and the lengths they go to destroy the opposition were actually pretty interesting and timely. By being a little different, the film really kept my interest. A very good film, but certainly not a great one due to a few plot holes.