User Reviews

The Case Against Brooklyn is a terrific 1958 movie based upon a real New York police scandal. It's a very well crafted crime drama, typical of the era. A classic piece for the times. And there's plenty of great acting (keeping in mind this was filmed in the 1950's where action moves were exaggerated).

Darren McGavin is excellent as the chief undercover officer who tries to discover the highest levels of the corruption. If you're a fan of current day crime/dramas, movies like "The Case Against Brooklyn" are the movies upon which good quality crime/dramas have their foundation. That said, it was made in 1958. So it doesn't have the "gloss" of later films. None the less, it's fantastic to watch.

A real scandal involving several NYPD police officers stationed in Brooklyn was the basis for this crime and corruption story that became the plot for The Case Against Brooklyn.

Cops are being paid off at an alarming rate to close their eyes and look the other way as illegal betting parlors open up for business all over the Borough of homes and churches. The District Attorney in Kings County who at that time in real life was a man named Edward Silver is determined to do something about it. In the film the character's name is Michael Norris and he's played by Tol Avery.

What Avery's decided to do is literally hijack the whole graduating class at the Academy and have them work for him undercover. One of them, Darren McGavin is sent undercover to romance the recent widow of Joe DeSantis who committed suicide so his double indemnity clause could pay off Nestor Paiva the bookie who's sent some of his enforcers around to collect. As McGavin romances Margaret Hayes that certainly puts a strain on his marriage to Peggy McCay.

And the triangle becomes four sided as Warren Stevens who does a bit of everything for Paiva, muscle, bagman, and even hit-man also starts courting Hayes to see what could spill to the cops, if she can find some that she can trust.

Best performances in the film by far are from DeSantis and Hayes. As the victim you can feel things closing in for DeSantis as he makes that final gesture for his wife's solvency. And Hayes you can feel sorry for the fact she's being used by both sides.

How it all ends, let me say that the climax takes a leaf from the Fritz Lang noir classic The Big Heat and if you know that film, you know about 80% of how the story will come out.

McGavin himself is a ruthless sort looking to prove himself, knowing that a good job here will cement his reputation. In real life it would have gained him a long career in Internal Affairs.

A year after the Dodgers left Brooklyn, The Case Against Brooklyn is a fine noir drama based on a real incident in the beloved former home of the Bums.

Coming Near the End of the Film-Noir Cycle.

This Fact-Based Story Tells of a District in Brooklyn that was "Sewed Up" By "Organized Crime".

It Came on the Heels of the Televised Senate Commission.

America was Riveted to the "Idiot Box" that for Once was Used for the Purpose of Informing the Public and Shining a Light on Evil Doers.

The Film is a Hard-Boiled, Bleak Look at the Gambling Operations and the Bad-Cops who were On the Take.

The Police Department Decides to Use "Virginal", Un-Tainted Rookies to Infiltrate.

Because the Corruption was so Deep that No One on the Force Could be Trusted.

Darren MaGavin Reins in His Usual Over-the-Top Shenanigans and Gives One of His Best Realistic Performances.

Good Cast All Around.

Highlighted by Margaret Hayes in a Gut-Wrenching Role and Bares Her Soul as a Widow whose Husband was "In Deep" to the Mob.

The Film also Boasts Bare-Knuckle Fisticuffs that are Outstanding.

Many a Norish Scenes of the Back-Alleys and Tough-Turf as the Action Unfolds.

Striking to Look At with a Good Script from the Black-Listed Bernard Gordon form a "True" Magazine Story by Ed Reid.

This Could be Categorized in 1950's Off-Spring of Film-Noir that Proliferated Crime Films and Became Labeled "Police Procedurals".

Owing more than a Debt to Pure Film-Noir, this is One of the Best of the Bunch.

Note...Bobby Helms the co-author of "Jingle Bell Rock" shows up in an "insert" and does the Movie no favors removing the angst and ambiance. But its only 2 minutes.

***SPOILERS*** With the shocking news, due to investigative reporter Reid, flooding every newspaper radio and TV station in the city about police corruption the D.A's office headed by Brooklyn D.A Michael W. Norris has commandeered the just graduating class of the Police Academy and put it, and its 40 rookie cops, under his personal control.

With the mob controlled bookies having almost total immunity from the law it's obvious that the cops are being paid off to look the other way by what's known as the "Syndicate". But what isn't known is just how far and high the corruption leads to! It may well lead straight into the Police Commissioner's or even Mayor's office!

With both rookie cops Pete Harris and is partner Jess Johnson put undercover to crack the bookie ring and the cops controlled by it Pete get's in touch with a local Brooklyn woman who's husband was driven to suicide by the "Syndicate". Acting as if he's an old high school acquainting of her Harris get's Lil Polombo to open up about her husbands, Gus, strange death. Gus was in hock to the syndicate for $800.00, in losing bets on the horses, and got worked over by Finelli's, who runs the local bookie operations, boys and told to come up with the cash or else!

Not having the money and not wanting to leave his old lady Lil out in the cold Gus got himself a double indemnity life insurance policy and immediately dove his truck off the road killing himself! As Lil was going through a deep depression, almost drinking herself blind, both Pete and local laundry delivery man and family friend Rudi Franklin came to comfort her. Pete was serious about Lili's loss but Rudi wasn't. Rudi in fact was one of the goon's who worked, laundering the weekly illegal gambling take, for Filenni. Rudi was also one of Filenni's goons who worked Gus over which lead to him, in not wanting to end up at the bottom of the East River, to kill himself.

The movie "The Case Against Brooklyn" has both Pete and Russ get stymied in trying to uncover who's the big cheese, or kingpin, behind the police corruption & bookie racket in the borough. Russ' nerves get the best of him which ends up in him getting himself shot and killed by a fellow cop Sgt. Bonney. Bonney in fact was also working for Filenni and mistook Russ as a prowler when he caught him snooping around Filenni's bookie joint.

Holding himself responsible for his partners-Russ Johnson-death Pete goes all out to get those behind his murder only to end up getting his wife Jane killed with a booby trapped telephone that was meant for him. Frustrated in how little help he's getting from his fellow cops, who for the most part are in the pay of the "Syndicate", and the D.A's office Peter throws in his badge and quites the force in disgust. It's then that Pete goes out on his own to get Filenni and those in the department who are protecting him as well as the hoods who murdered his wife Jean.

Together with a reluctant Lil's help Pete gets an unsuspecting Rudi to take him, in his laundry truck, to the big bosses hideout-the laundry factory-where the sparks and bullets start flying. That's when Pete, like so many times in the movie, blows his cover and ends up with the barrel of a .38 police special aimed straight at his face.

Based on a true story "The Case Against Brooklyn", released in 1958, shows that police corruption didn't start and end with both Officer Frank Serpico-who almost lost his life fighting it-and the 1970's Knapp Commission Hearings that shockingly exposed it as not being just a couple of bad apples in the department but a whole barrel full. The fact that there's honest and dedicated policemen like Pete Harris and his late partner Russ Johnson out on the street keeping criminals honest, and behind bars, is what makes the job of being an honest cop that much more easier as well as rewarding for those on the force willing to be one.

This fifties Columbia potboiler about bookies made with routine excellence was once considered important enough for Andrew Sarris to italicise it's title in his entry in Sarris's book 'American Cinema'.

The film doesn't stint on the fisticuffs and gunplay, but what really gives the film it's soul is Margaret Hayes as a careworn widow initially drawn to crewcutted hero Darren McGavin and devastated to learn that he's actually happily married.

Among the coppers those with sharp eyes will spot Brian Hutton (later director of 'Where Eagles Dare') and Joseph Turkel (best known for his much later role as the grinning barman in 'The Shining' but who already had two Kubrick's under his belt).

Only the second film that Paul Wendkos directed, the "Case Against Brooklyn" is a look inside the New York police department. The lead, Officer Pete Harris (Darren McGavin ) must separate the good guys from the bad guys without getting knocked off himself. McGavin had been in films and numerous TV appearances for 10 years, along with co-stars Margaret Hayes, Peggy McCay, and Warren Stevens. It's a bit like an episode of Dragnet - there's an omniscient narrator giving us the play by play. At one point, there's a singer in a lounge, Bobby Helms, who sings "Jacqueline", in a complete standstill, deadpan manner as he leans against the jukebox. The real interesting note here is that he was also the co-writer on "Jingle Bell Rock"... too bad he didn't sing that one. The character here with real personality has about the smallest role - the landlady Mrs. Carney, played by Cheerio Meredith, is eccentric, nosy, and likes to give advice. You probably recognize her as the gossipy "Emma Watson" from the Andy Griffith show. I was determined to watch this through to the end, but it's as dry as a piece of toast with no buttah.

Opine that a film is noir, and the arguments will sprout up like mushrooms in a dark cellar. This gritty little feature, however, should cause contention only among those who designate noir in terms of directors, inclusive years, or other mercenary measures. The plot concerns police corruption, and the protagonist is an unsullied, but savvy rookie cop who is ready and willing to cast sentiment aside and get the goods by hook or crook. The Production Code is cracking, and characters talk of a woman putting out and a good guy's willingness to cheat on his wife. There's no soft soap or sappiness--only an oblique noir world that twists and turns and delivers flashes of light amidst the gloom.

It looks like a Don Siegel or Phil Karlson film, but director Paul Wendkos was an effective film maker, finally preferring the TV industry than the big screen one. Excellent, flawless acting, directing, photography. Of course, the topic tells the combat between good guys against the evil ones, the mob. It nearly evokes a pilot of a TV series in the basic plot. And Darren McGavin will also, as Paul Wendkos, prefer the small screen career. This film noir confirms the previous talent shown by Wendkos in THE BURGLAR, another crime film, solid, taut as this one, but for another story. A true good piece of work, solid material for noir gems seekers.

Sure, McGavin comes off (mildly upset) like Richard Conte in The Brothers Rico (1957) when his wife is killed. But, it's still Darren McGavin.

------------------------------ My IMDb ratings 1 Deliberately botched 2 I don't want to see it 3 I FF'd through it 4 Bad 5 I don't get it 6 Good 7 Great but with a major flaw 8 Great 9 Noir with moral 10 Inspiring with moral.

Stumbled on this one today. Plot is very good, very realistic. Always fascinating to see what were once considered glamorous fashiones. The acting is top notch from names one would never consider important. The parts of the characters' lives might have seemed insignificant but here they were given real irony. Very frank 1950s violence . So much more fun to see fists used in unexpected places. All of this on a low budget, the only way film noir can be done.

Apparently based on real events in Brooklyn, what I like about THE CASE AGAINST BROOKLYN is that it feels like an action film throughout, without the moralizing that usually accompanies noir docs. Very competent direction by Paul Wendkos.

Photography by Fred Jackman is first class, sharp dialogue in a gripping script, and solid performances from Darren McGavin (whom I have never rated highly as an actor) and statuesque Margaret Hayes.

It could so easily have gone the way of noir docs that peppered the movies in the 1950 - instead, this film holds its own and has its own personality. Recommended to anyone interested in noir.

IMDB calls "The Case Against Brooklyn" a 'fact-based film'. What does that mean? Does it mean that the story is a true story? I have no idea, as IMDB, Wikipedia and other sources don't say anything more about this aspect of the movie.

The story is, of course, set in Brooklyn. The city is very ill-served by its police force, as many cops seem to be on the take...accepting bribes to help a huge bookmaking outfit. But they are not just bookmakers, but send out rough goons to collect...and they don't seem to mind hurting or even killing people in the process.

Because so many cops could be involved, the Commissioner decides to recruit a rookie (Darren McGavin) from the police academy to go undercover along with a fellow rookie. But the road is tough for the rookies, as the crooks and crooked cops will stop at nothing to silence them. What's next? See the film.

In some ways this movie is a lot like film noir. On one hand, the story is very tough, violent and unflinching...just like good noir. But, on the other, the usual dark cinematography and camerawork isn't present in this one...which isn't a problem as the script is quite taut and exciting. Well worth seeing...and a really good, gritty cop picture.

That's what they don't do in this film. Some laundry establishment is used for delivering and smuggling money around to spread the corruption of the booking business to policemen, who get paid for protecting the bookies. It's big business worth a million a day. Well, as usual, the racketeers go too far and go off killing too many and making too many widows and even targeting would-be widows and killing wrong men, leading to some racketeers wanting to get off, which it is hard to do in this business, unless you want to get killed for it. The film is interesting for its preying into the mechanisms of rackets and how syndicates work as their greed for money and power never can stop before it is too late and the show is off when everything has gone totally wrong with too many innocent casualties. Better stay out of it from the beginning, which policemen can't do, since it's their job to get to the bottom of all dirty business, especially when the money gets into the laundry.