ILLEGAL

I watched ILLEGAL (1955) for the first time yesterday with my buddy Kelly Greene. It's a minor film noir that features a terrific cast and narrative full of twists and turns.

Edward G. Robinson stars as Victor Scott, a district attorney with both a sterling record of convictions and political aspirations. Scott hopes to run for governor one day but when he sends an innocent man (DeForest Kelley in a small part), to the electric chair, his career and standing crumble. He turns to the bottle for solace and decides to give up the DA's office and return to practicing civil law. The new district attorney, Ralph Ford (Edward Platt), is a tough, by-the-book prosecutor who has husband and wife Ray Borden (Hugh Marlowe) and Ellen Miles (Nina Foch) on his team. Both Ray and Ellen worked for Scott.

Scott quickly returns to criminal law and demonstrates an ability to get any and all clients off. When he defends a young embezzler with mob connections, Scott is suddenly thrust into the operations of crime boss Frank Garland (Albert Dekker), who wants Scott to work for him as his "fixer". Scott refuses to do so. But there's a rat in the D.A.'s office in the form of Borden who is secretly working for Garland. When Ellen finds out about her husband, Borden tries to kill her. She shoots him in self defense and guess who gets to represent her in court?

Things come to an exciting climax in the third act with a gun battle, car chase and a dramatic courtroom testimony that seals the fate of the mobsters.

With a screenplay by genre veteran W.R. Burnett (along with James R. Webb) and confident direction by Lewis Allen, ILLEGAL is a good little crime drama that takes a while to get going. It's Robinson's film from beginning to end in a role that allows him to play both tough and tender. He's a treat to watch as is the stellar supporting cast.

ILLEGAL is not a major film noir but it's definitely one worth seeing. Thumbs up.