Virtually Forgotten Among the J. D. & "Beat" Films of the 50's, Usually Only Referenced as Peter Falk's 2nd Feature Film.
But it has Much More to Offer than a Look at Falk at the Beginning of a Celebrated Career. "Spoiler" The "Colombo" Actor Looked Exactly the Same, Never Aging.
The Worst Part of the Movie is that it is too Short to Deliver a Lasting and Indelible Impression with some Abrupt and Awkward Transitions and Scenes Cut Short, that would have Benefited Immensely with some Breathing-Room for Plot and Ambience Development.
But What is Here is an Above Average B-Movie with Gravitas, Loads of Atmosphere, and Very Good Performances. It Captures the "Scene" Quite Well as Mixed-Up Crazy Kids and Young Adults Seek "Explanations" and Rebel at Life's Very Existence.
Falk is a Low-Level Mafioso Dealing Drugs to the Dregs Looking for "Kicks". A Psycho that Goes Off the Deep-End Murdering People Because...Well...Just Because.
Plenty of Bongos, Jazz, Street-Poetry, and Sexy Dancing. Contains Hints at Nudity, Free Love, and a Scene Puffing Pot, Almost Unheard of for the Time.
Add to That some Bloody Beatings (to be true to the title) and Hard-Core Characters.
Jack Betts, who had a Prolific Career in TV (108 Credits) and Supporting Parts in Films (played Boris Karloff in "Gods and Monsters" (1998), is Great as the Lead "Square".
The Movie Delivers the Goods, but Could Have Used a Longer Running Time to Really "Flesh" Things Out.
Highly Recommended.
But it has Much More to Offer than a Look at Falk at the Beginning of a Celebrated Career. "Spoiler" The "Colombo" Actor Looked Exactly the Same, Never Aging.
The Worst Part of the Movie is that it is too Short to Deliver a Lasting and Indelible Impression with some Abrupt and Awkward Transitions and Scenes Cut Short, that would have Benefited Immensely with some Breathing-Room for Plot and Ambience Development.
But What is Here is an Above Average B-Movie with Gravitas, Loads of Atmosphere, and Very Good Performances. It Captures the "Scene" Quite Well as Mixed-Up Crazy Kids and Young Adults Seek "Explanations" and Rebel at Life's Very Existence.
Falk is a Low-Level Mafioso Dealing Drugs to the Dregs Looking for "Kicks". A Psycho that Goes Off the Deep-End Murdering People Because...Well...Just Because.
Plenty of Bongos, Jazz, Street-Poetry, and Sexy Dancing. Contains Hints at Nudity, Free Love, and a Scene Puffing Pot, Almost Unheard of for the Time.
Add to That some Bloody Beatings (to be true to the title) and Hard-Core Characters.
Jack Betts, who had a Prolific Career in TV (108 Credits) and Supporting Parts in Films (played Boris Karloff in "Gods and Monsters" (1998), is Great as the Lead "Square".
The Movie Delivers the Goods, but Could Have Used a Longer Running Time to Really "Flesh" Things Out.
Highly Recommended.