Gang War

Gang War (1958)

** (out of 4)

A school teacher (Charles Bronson) witnesses a gang killing and turns the gangsters over to the police. In return, the gangsters kill the teacher's pregnant girlfriend, so he goes out for revenge. It was rather funny seeing this film because you can't help but think of Death Wish while watching it. Bronson is rather bland in the lead and the direction by Gene Fowler, Jr. doesn't add much to the mix. The ending really doesn't work and comes of a letdown as well.

Fox owns this title and as of yet they haven't released it to DVD.

Back in 1958, Charles Bronson had appeared in a few movies and TV shows but was far from a star. Additionally, his tough guy persona wasn't yet established by later movies such as "The Dirty Dozen", "The Valachi Papers" or the "Deathwish" films. Here, instead, he plays a pretty ordinary guy who gets sucked in the middle of a gangland killing.

Alan (Bronson) is out one night picking up a prescription for his pregnant wife. On the way back, he witnesses two goons murder a poor sap. He calls the police about it...but doesn't want to get involved so he doesn't give his name. However, he accidentally left the prescription behind and soon the cops show up...asking him if he witnessed the killing. He reluctantly admits he called them and soon agrees to cooperate...identifying both the killers and the car they used. Unfortunately, there's a leak in the police force and soon Maxie knows that there's a witness...one who needs to be silenced. What's next? See the film.

Apart from the confrontation Maxie has with the Syndicate late in the movie, which seemed a bit phony, I liked this film a lot. It is tough and exciting...but also seems more realistic than many other crime movies. Well worth your time.

And also a vigilante Bronson before its time; but everyone has already noticed that. However, maybe not anyone have noticed that Alan ladd, in 1962, played in 13 WEST STREET, also the scheme of an ordinary law abiding citizen suddenly victim of hoodlums; except that in the movie with Ladd, there were not mobsters but "golden" hoodlums. Both features deserve to be watched and discovered again by bigger audiences. They both worth the viewing. Both are interesting to analyze, especially at the period when they were made. In this film, very curious movie, the supporting characters are interesting and the gang boss friendship with his henchman, the former boxer, is touching and very rare, but typical of a B picture. Excellet anti climax.

That's what I thought as did my guest, when we both watched this film recently on cable.

There's a lot of originality going on from the minute the film begins, with Hollywood, California as the back drop, including the old Capitol Records building in the background. There were some interesting camera angles, as well as one unintentional humorous fight scene between some gangsters.

As for the plot, well, it's "Death Wish" 1958 almost, with a young and raw Charles Bronson as a high school teacher. Gloria Henry, the mother from the Jay North sitcom "Dennis the Menace" plays his pregnant wife.

Next time you come across it on cable, give the film a chance. You might end up watching it (and enjoying it), all the way through.