Jackals of the underworld
| Movie | |
|---|---|
| German title | Jackals of the underworld |
| Original title | Illegal |
| Country of production | United States |
| original language | English |
| Publishing year | 1955 |
| length | 88 minutes |
| Age rating | FSK 16 |
| Rod | |
| Director | Lewis Allen |
| script |
WR Burnett James R. Webb |
| production | Frank P. Rosenberg |
| music | Max Steiner |
| camera | J. Peverell Marley |
| cut | Thomas Reilly |
| occupation | |
| |
Jackals of the Underworld (Original title: Illegal ) is an American crime film from 1955 based on a story by Frank J. Collins . The American theatrical release was on October 2, 1955 in Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania . The film was released in West German cinemas on July 5, 1957.
action
Her boyfriend Edward Clay is charged with the cold-blooded murder of the young Gloria Benson. The successful prosecutor Victor Scott ensures his conviction. On the evening of the execution, Scott learns from his assistant Ray Borden that a robber was shot and confessed to the murder of Gloria on his deathbed. Scott can no longer prevent the execution of the innocent Clay.
This event throws Scott off course, he questions his past successes and quits his job as a prosecutor. Ray and his assistant Ellen, with whom he has a friendly relationship, advises not only to stay with his successor, but also to marry. Due to the negative press and his depressed mood, Scott is becoming increasingly addicted to alcohol. Scott is eventually arrested due to a brawl. During the preliminary hearing, he discovers the injustice against a defendant, whom he finally helps to acquit. This gives Scott hope again and opens a law firm. Scott finds his first client in Parker, the employee of a private bank who embezzled $ 90,000. Parker lost some of the money in horse racing but doesn't want to go to jail. Scott is negotiating with Smith, the owner of the bank, who should refrain from filing a complaint and get 50,000 back in return. To convince Smith of this, Scott not only mentions the loss of trust in customers when the incident became known, he also mentions the knowledge from his old position that the bank is used to launder the money of the illegal gaming club owner Garland. Smith is not happy about the incident, but agrees, despite learning that Scott has withheld $ 10,000 as fee. Smith reports Scott's behavior towards the new prosecutor Ralph Ford. In a conversation between the three men, however, it quickly becomes clear that Scott acted skillfully and in accordance with the law, but that Smith actually made himself liable to prosecution by not filing a complaint.
Garland has Parker shot in revenge by his henchman Andy Garth and Scott brought to him. He offers him to work for himself, which Scott initially refuses. When Scott is defending a suspected poisoner in court, he takes a spectacular and audience-effective swallow from the evidence, the poison bottle. Then he drives to a doctor to pump out his stomach. There he is intercepted by Smith and Garland, who tell him that the acquitted worked for them and that Scott has now knowingly helped a culprit. With that, Scott submits to his fate and takes on assignments for the gangsters.
The practice goes well, only Ellen turns away from Scott because she doesn't understand his actions. In the meantime, Ford suspects an informer from within the crime syndicate. He deliberately spreads false information and has his employees monitored. When Ellen exposes her husband Ray as a liaison man, a scuffle breaks out. When Ray tries to push his wife out of the window, Ellen shoots her husband. As a result, Ellen is charged with murder. The prosecutor tries to expose Ellen as an informant, Scott does not succeed in producing conclusive evidence. During a break in negotiations, he drives to Garland and reports on the process. He proposes to Garland that Andy should be sacrificed by giving Ray an informant in court. Andy doesn’t agree to go to jail for bribing officials. Scott leaves Garland's house without having achieved anything. Andy sends Andy to kill the lawyer. The attack is narrowly prevented by two members of the public prosecutor's office who shadowed Scott on behalf of Ford. Scott Garland's ex-girlfriend, Angel, who was shot before court, confirms Ray's numerous calls and thus proves Ellen's innocence.
reception
The Lexicon of International Films describes the film as “the perfect crime film with a precise setting” and praises the great character study by Edward G. Robinson.
Cinema rated the film as an “indestructible pinstripe oldtimer”.
synchronization
The German dubbing was done at Deutsche Mondial Film , Berlin .
| role | actor | Voice actor |
|---|---|---|
| Victor Scott | Edward G. Robinson | Bum Kruger |
| Allen Parker | James McCallion | Klaus Havenstein |
| EA Smith | Howard St. John | Klaus W. Krause |
| Edward Clary | DeForest Kelley | Christian Marshal |
| Frank Garland | Albert Dekker | Ernst Constantine |
| Ralph Ford | Edward Platt | Herbert Weicker |
| Ray Borden | Hugh Marlowe | Peter Pasetti |
| Judge | Charles Evans | Klaus W. Krause |
Web links
- Jackals of the underworld in the Internet Movie Database (English)
- Jackals of the Underworld in the online movie database
Individual evidence
- ↑ Jackals of the Underworld. In: Lexicon of International Films . Film service , accessed April 20, 2020 .
- ↑ Editorial review on Cinema.de, accessed April 20, 2020
- ↑ Jackals of the Underworld. In: synchronkartei.de. German dubbing file , accessed on April 20, 2020 .