Jim Riley is a columnist who writes his daily Crime Reporter column discussing the moves and killings of noted racketeers. Riley gets much of his information from gangster Bugs Kelly, a friend, who is trying to leave the underworld and its business organization Crime, Inc. by testifying at a grand jury hearing on the organization. The heads of Crime, Inc. learn of Bugs' motives and put a hit out on him eventually nailing him at a carnival. Riley, now under investigation since Bugs was a close confidant of his, decides to turn states' evidence and appear before the grand jury. Crime, Inc. plans to be a bit more sadistic with the rubbing out of Riley by using Riley's sweetheart (and Bugs' sister) nightclub singer Betty Van Cleeve. Average and interesting poverty row gangster film with a good story and plot that does have some interesting twists. The ending does not seem to deliver the explosiveness promised from the earlier parts of the film but the crime does not pay mantra does take effect. Actors are decent here (surprised to see Carillo play a non-Hispanic speaking role here) but nothing special. Rating, 5.
10 Reviews
Hunting a Moriarty
bkoganbing24 September 2016
Crime, Inc. is one of those films that had it been done at a major studio it might have been a classic. It bears some resemblance to the MGM classic The Secret Six that starred Clark Gable, Wallace Beery, and Jean Harlow a decade and a half earlier.
It also borrows a bit from Sherlock Holmes in that there is a thesis that crime is a tightly controlled business and there's a Moriarty like head of it in this city. When the identity of this particular Moriarty is revealed we can understand why the police have been powerless to crush the crime syndicate.
The stars of this PRC film are Tom Neal as a crime reporter, Martha Tilton as a nightclub singer, and Danny Morton who is an independent operator and won't join the crime syndicate. Tilton is his sister and Morton's been a confidential source for Neal.
A nice group of character players are in this one and they make it worth a look, people like Harry Shannon, Grant Mitchell, Sheldon Leonard, Don Beddoe, and Leo Carrillo. Most interesting is Lionel Atwill as a mob attorney, offbeat casting for him, but it works.
But pedestrian direction and a script with enough holes in it to look like it was used for target practice consign Crime, Inc. to a mediocre fate.
It also borrows a bit from Sherlock Holmes in that there is a thesis that crime is a tightly controlled business and there's a Moriarty like head of it in this city. When the identity of this particular Moriarty is revealed we can understand why the police have been powerless to crush the crime syndicate.
The stars of this PRC film are Tom Neal as a crime reporter, Martha Tilton as a nightclub singer, and Danny Morton who is an independent operator and won't join the crime syndicate. Tilton is his sister and Morton's been a confidential source for Neal.
A nice group of character players are in this one and they make it worth a look, people like Harry Shannon, Grant Mitchell, Sheldon Leonard, Don Beddoe, and Leo Carrillo. Most interesting is Lionel Atwill as a mob attorney, offbeat casting for him, but it works.
But pedestrian direction and a script with enough holes in it to look like it was used for target practice consign Crime, Inc. to a mediocre fate.
DON'T read the Storyline on IMDB...
planktonrules3 May 2021
Considering that this film is from tiny PRC, you'd expect it to be complete crap. However, it's a rare case where this B-movie production company actually made a pretty dandy film. I can only assume it was by accident judging by most PRC films!
The story is about a town riddled with organized crime. The problem is so bad that even many in the police department are working for the mob. But reporter Jim Riley (Tom Neal) has an inside source. It seems he's dating the sister of a crook who hates this mob and he feeds Jim information. Unfortunately, the man is eventually discovered and killed. Does the town have any chance for rooting out these criminals and what role will Jim have in all this?
The cast for this has a lot of decent character actors, such as Lionel Atwill, Grant Mitchell, Leo Carillo and more. This is unusual for PRC as is the competent writing. Well worth seeing.
If you want to see this film, the worst thing you can do is read IMDB's Storyline section, as it divulges WHO the criminal masterminds are! This is unusual and weird.
The story is about a town riddled with organized crime. The problem is so bad that even many in the police department are working for the mob. But reporter Jim Riley (Tom Neal) has an inside source. It seems he's dating the sister of a crook who hates this mob and he feeds Jim information. Unfortunately, the man is eventually discovered and killed. Does the town have any chance for rooting out these criminals and what role will Jim have in all this?
The cast for this has a lot of decent character actors, such as Lionel Atwill, Grant Mitchell, Leo Carillo and more. This is unusual for PRC as is the competent writing. Well worth seeing.
If you want to see this film, the worst thing you can do is read IMDB's Storyline section, as it divulges WHO the criminal masterminds are! This is unusual and weird.
Great little crime pic from long gone company! A must see film!!
buckcody20 March 2003
I recently got this film from a good source and was worth the money. It was great to see Sheldon Leonard as the mouthy cop. Tom Neal one of my favorites as the go get 'em reporter. Leo Carillo is debonair as boss man "Tony" and of course Atwill as the man who "calls for the kill" This is worth a sit down to look at. It even has agreat uncredited bunch of actors among them Syd Saylor (remember him?), Earl Hodgins and I. Stanford Jolley. Those guys were in everything! I'm sure if you check it out you will love what you see!!! A B-Movie must see!!
Confusing Criminal Undertaking
wes-connors17 April 2011
When two mobsters are gunned down in a big city cafe, "Daily News" crime reporter Tom Neal (as James "Jim" Riley) decides to investigate. He is correct in seeking out handsome pal Danny Morton (as Mike Egan) about the shooting. For some unexplained reason, Mr. Morton's mob inclinations don't seem fully known to Mr. Neal, although Morton screams RACKETEER and goes by the name "Bugs Kelley" while posing as a life insurance agent. He should be a dead giveaway.
More bodies drop as gangster Leo Carrillo (as Anthony "Tony" Marlow) and celebrated criminal lawyer Lionel Atwill (as Pat Coyle) man their battle stations. Meanwhile, protagonist Mr. Neal becomes aroused by the debonair Morton's beautiful singing sister Martha Tilton (as Betty). Ms. Tilton uses the name "Betty Van Cleve" professionally, apparently to further emphasize her cleavage. Morton tells Neal, "She's sweet and over 21," to give his blessing. "Crime, Inc." is hard to fathom.
*** Crime, Inc. (4/15/45) Lew Landers ~ Tom Neal, Martha Tilton, Leo Carrillo, Danny Morton
More bodies drop as gangster Leo Carrillo (as Anthony "Tony" Marlow) and celebrated criminal lawyer Lionel Atwill (as Pat Coyle) man their battle stations. Meanwhile, protagonist Mr. Neal becomes aroused by the debonair Morton's beautiful singing sister Martha Tilton (as Betty). Ms. Tilton uses the name "Betty Van Cleve" professionally, apparently to further emphasize her cleavage. Morton tells Neal, "She's sweet and over 21," to give his blessing. "Crime, Inc." is hard to fathom.
*** Crime, Inc. (4/15/45) Lew Landers ~ Tom Neal, Martha Tilton, Leo Carrillo, Danny Morton
"... he's the guy who says who does it to who and for how much."
classicsoncall23 July 2007
Warning: Spoilers
I've seen a number of poor films from Poverty Row studio PRC Pictures, but this has to be one of their better efforts, an unusually involved gangster flick that pits bad guys against bad guys and a grand jury attempting to get the goods on a big time crime syndicate. Newspaper reporter Jim Riley (Tom Neal) gets unusually close to mobster Bugs Kelley (Danny Morton) by saving him from a rub out, only to hear of his eventual demise for refusing to join Crime, Inc. One of the more interesting casting decisions has to be that of Leo Carillo as Tony Marlowe, finger man for the mob, and diametrically opposed in character to the one he portrayed as the Cisco Kid's sidekick in all those Western films and TV shows. It was a bit surprising to see him pull off a serious role without going for one of those hysterical malapropisms, although he did place a five thousand dollar bet that turned out to be a contract hit on Bugs Kelley.
With the film coming in at about seventy five minutes, the windup did seem to be just a bit too tidy, as all the elements fell into place to bring the members of the crime organization to justice. I think I'll need another viewing to make the connection with the crooked cop who leaked information to the criminals, as that seemed to blow by rather quickly. The romantic subplot between Riley and Kelley's sister Betty (Martha Tilton) didn't seem especially necessary for the story, but it didn't hurt either. Say, how was that for an impromptu wedding ceremony as the final curtain came down?
I always found it helpful when watching the Charlie Chan films of the era to keep a scorecard to track the many characters who were introduced during the course of the story. The same applies here, as it's easy to get the good guys confused with the villains and vice versa. Like Lionel Atwill and Sheldon Leonard, you wind up marveling at their appearance in the story well before you figure out which side they're on!
With the film coming in at about seventy five minutes, the windup did seem to be just a bit too tidy, as all the elements fell into place to bring the members of the crime organization to justice. I think I'll need another viewing to make the connection with the crooked cop who leaked information to the criminals, as that seemed to blow by rather quickly. The romantic subplot between Riley and Kelley's sister Betty (Martha Tilton) didn't seem especially necessary for the story, but it didn't hurt either. Say, how was that for an impromptu wedding ceremony as the final curtain came down?
I always found it helpful when watching the Charlie Chan films of the era to keep a scorecard to track the many characters who were introduced during the course of the story. The same applies here, as it's easy to get the good guys confused with the villains and vice versa. Like Lionel Atwill and Sheldon Leonard, you wind up marveling at their appearance in the story well before you figure out which side they're on!
Incomprehensible Poverty Row Mess
JoeB13112 March 2011
Warning: Spoilers
Okay, all the things we've expected to find from Poverty Row productions- Bad sound.
Uneven lighting.
confused, incomprehensible plot.
Cheap Sets.
Washed up actors who worked for bigger studios working for booze money. Kind of what "Direct to DVD" movies are today.
Usually, we find these movies in DVD collections because no one bothered to copyright the few messed up copies that are left, and they get picked up at garage sales.
Uneven lighting.
confused, incomprehensible plot.
Cheap Sets.
Washed up actors who worked for bigger studios working for booze money. Kind of what "Direct to DVD" movies are today.
Usually, we find these movies in DVD collections because no one bothered to copyright the few messed up copies that are left, and they get picked up at garage sales.
Great cast sells a good story
dbborroughs12 January 2009
Warning: Spoilers
Reporter uses his friendship to mobsters to get the goods on the corruption and rackets in his city.
Very good crime drama with a sterling cast (Tom Neal, Leo Carillo, Lionel Atwill, Sheldon Lenoard) keeps things moving with crisp dialog and a pace that just moves along at a clip. I really liked this since it just moves from the opening minutes when a shooting in a nightclub grabs and holds your attention. Definitely worth a look.
7 out of 10 (If you're looking for a copy I would avoid some of the bargain basement copies since they are over scanned and crop out characters. Its worth spend more than a buck or two to pick this up.)
Very good crime drama with a sterling cast (Tom Neal, Leo Carillo, Lionel Atwill, Sheldon Lenoard) keeps things moving with crisp dialog and a pace that just moves along at a clip. I really liked this since it just moves from the opening minutes when a shooting in a nightclub grabs and holds your attention. Definitely worth a look.
7 out of 10 (If you're looking for a copy I would avoid some of the bargain basement copies since they are over scanned and crop out characters. Its worth spend more than a buck or two to pick this up.)
Compliments of the syndicate
kapelusznik1815 March 2017
Warning: Spoilers
***SPOILERS*** Tom Neal is crusading crime reporter Jim Riley who's connection with mobster Bugs Kelly, Danny Morton, who's being pressured to join the syndicate. It's the Idreaded syndicate who controls most of the politicians as well as police in the state as well as D.A's office. Being an independent mobster who doesn't like to take orders as well as kick back to the syndicate Buggs signs his own death warrant when he has syndicate big shot Pat Coyle, Lionel Atwill, kidnapped and held for a $100,000.00 ransom in order to get it off his back. With the syndicate coming to Coyles rescue, by finding him and killing his captors,Bugs end up on the syndicate's sh*t end of the stick when he's tracked down with one of his goons in a Conley island wax museum and gunned down has he sitting in a fake electric chair having a smoke.
Meanwhile Jim got to know and fall in love with Bugs sister night club singer Betty Van Cleve, Martha Tilton, who just happened to be the late Bug's sister who had no idea what her brother, he told her he was an insurance agent, was involved in. On top of all that Jim is now under investigation by the local D.A in what he knew, if anything, about Bug's murder and who was responsible for it. Playing it safe Jim now also in the cross hair of the syndicate ends up going on his own in order to get the goods on it before he ends up getting rubbed out, like his friend Bugs, for knowing too much.
***SPOILERS*** Using 1945 state of the art electronics and photography Jim gets the evidence on the syndicate as well as those in the police and city and state politics that it controls just when he was about to get indited for withholding evidence in Bugs' murder. And it was a number of those in the police and D.A's office who were prosecuting Jim who ended up getting busted for using their office to do the syndicate bidding! With his job done and the bad guys now safely behind bars Jim can now concentrate on hooking up Betty by getting married and putting all of this-Crime reporting- behind him. P.S It was later that year that Tom Neal was to star in what was to be his signature movie "Detour" that turned out to be one of the most significant "Film Noir" movies of that genre.
Meanwhile Jim got to know and fall in love with Bugs sister night club singer Betty Van Cleve, Martha Tilton, who just happened to be the late Bug's sister who had no idea what her brother, he told her he was an insurance agent, was involved in. On top of all that Jim is now under investigation by the local D.A in what he knew, if anything, about Bug's murder and who was responsible for it. Playing it safe Jim now also in the cross hair of the syndicate ends up going on his own in order to get the goods on it before he ends up getting rubbed out, like his friend Bugs, for knowing too much.
***SPOILERS*** Using 1945 state of the art electronics and photography Jim gets the evidence on the syndicate as well as those in the police and city and state politics that it controls just when he was about to get indited for withholding evidence in Bugs' murder. And it was a number of those in the police and D.A's office who were prosecuting Jim who ended up getting busted for using their office to do the syndicate bidding! With his job done and the bad guys now safely behind bars Jim can now concentrate on hooking up Betty by getting married and putting all of this-Crime reporting- behind him. P.S It was later that year that Tom Neal was to star in what was to be his signature movie "Detour" that turned out to be one of the most significant "Film Noir" movies of that genre.
unexpectedly compelling
Cristi_Ciopron19 May 2016
Warning: Spoilers
A gangster movie with a good supporting cast: Leonard, Beddoe, Atwill as a lawyer and the chairman of the mobsters' syndicate, G. Meeker. As for Carrillo, billed as the star of the movie, he looks like a perfidious, untrustworthy oldster, which was good for the role. The leading actress, nice but unskilled, seemed a Stanwyck wannabe. Neal is legendary, but I have never found him convincing or likable. Be it as it may, the role he makes here is passable.
The acting highlight belongs to Leonard.
The fact is they assembled quite a cast, partly by recycling veterans.
The 2nd thing it's the exciting and eventful script it has: 'the invisible government', the organized crime, the syndicate, the rub-outs; one of PRC's best written movies, and one of their sensationalist dramas made in the '40s. Stultified audiences have been taught to despise them.
By both look and story-line, it reminded me of '70s mafia movies made in Italy.
This movie's reputation is unfair. Stylistically, unconsciously, it was way ahead of its time. The storytelling is very compelling. The reporter isn't idealized at all.
For movie buffs endowed with a catholic sympathy, with catholicity of taste, for that elite of movie buffs, with the availability's of acknowledging good acting, and the awareness of its nature, and of wonders that enhance those offered by the stage, these fun-houses have the dimension of an acting fair.
The acting highlight belongs to Leonard.
The fact is they assembled quite a cast, partly by recycling veterans.
The 2nd thing it's the exciting and eventful script it has: 'the invisible government', the organized crime, the syndicate, the rub-outs; one of PRC's best written movies, and one of their sensationalist dramas made in the '40s. Stultified audiences have been taught to despise them.
By both look and story-line, it reminded me of '70s mafia movies made in Italy.
This movie's reputation is unfair. Stylistically, unconsciously, it was way ahead of its time. The storytelling is very compelling. The reporter isn't idealized at all.
For movie buffs endowed with a catholic sympathy, with catholicity of taste, for that elite of movie buffs, with the availability's of acknowledging good acting, and the awareness of its nature, and of wonders that enhance those offered by the stage, these fun-houses have the dimension of an acting fair.
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
