Secretos de Miami

Luther Adler heads a crime syndicate that's running Miami, with a fancy lawyer making sure he's untouchable, and a coldblooded John Baer to do his dirty jobs for him. The latest one is the assassination of 2 Cubans as they exit an airplane, in front of a crowd. Frustrated and fearing things will go from bad to worse now, local businessmen hire an ex-gangster from Chicago, Barry Sullivan, to try and get enough on Adler to get him in front of a grand jury. Adler framed Sullivan years before, so Sullivan accepts, and enlists the help of Cuban cops to pretend he's part of a Cuban crime ring moving in on Adler's turf. He also meets a woman who flew to Miami with the 2 deceased Cubans, Bevery Garland, who has an unsuspected connection to Adler's squeeze, Adele Jergens.

One of countless docu-noirs exposing every sort of crime ring in every major US city, this one even has a Florida senator chime in at the start, as well as the mandatory authoritative narration. Made on a low budget, it's pretty standard fare, but still manages to entertain. Sullivan ('The Gangster') is great as the former gangster who's still cold and callous when necessary, and Adler ('D.O.A.') played villains for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Jergens ('Armored Car Robbery') and Garland ('New Orleans Uncensored') play opposite roles, and esp Jergens is great as a bitter femme fatale just past her prime.

The directing by Fred F. Sears and cinematography by Harry Freulich is competent and occasionally inspired (there's a great shot of Garland when Sullivan first meets her inside his hotel room). They worked together on a number of movies, including other city/crime exposés like'Chicago Syndicate' and 'Inside Detroit'. Sears would even return to Miami a few years later for 'Miami Exposé'. All in all, while there's nothing under the sun here, and there are no real surprises (maybe that it's slightly more graphic than usual), it's a fast-paced and enjoyable movie if yer into this subgenre/corner of film noir.

The uncredited stentorian voice of William Woodson provides the voiceover to this docunoir about the growth of organized crime in Miami in the wake of WWII.

It is a middling effort, standard B flick with standard b&w photography and unremarkable acting. The script really stretches your suspension of disbelief, especially the decision to send former criminal Mick Flagg (Sullivan) into the lion's den, in order to cure the town of its crime pandemic.

One positive aspect about MIAMI STORY: 75' long.

A group of Miami's civic leaders and police bring a gangster out of "retirement" to help take down the city's crime syndicate.

Overall, I found The Miami Story very enjoyable. Sure, there are issues with the plot that require a gigantic leap in logic, but if you're willing to look past these issues (and I looked past most - not all, but most), it's a fairly rewarding and entertaining experience. The film is more graphic than most I've seen from the era, with a woman being badly beaten-up, more blood than I expected, and a more explicit inference of prostitution. For 1954, this is about as far as you could go in the depiction of the sleaze and nastiness resulting from crime. The acting is particularly noteworthy. Barry Sullivan (rock solid and believable in the lead), Luther Adler (the perfect baddie), and Adele Jergens (as the tough-as-nails "dame") are all outstanding. But I was happiest to see Beverly Garland's fantastic performance. I've always been a fan regardless of the dreck she sometimes appeared in. The Miami Story also benefits from solid direction. Fred Sears' pacing is perfect. From the opening shootout to the final chase, The Miami Story rarely lets up. And, the film looks fantastic. I especially enjoyed the shots of Miami from the 50s - how things have changed! It's all nicely done.

Finally, I've often seen The Miami Story listed as a film noir. I'd argue that's not exactly accurate. I could cite a number of reasons, but the main one is the film's ending. You don't get that in a typical noir.

6/10

I did not expect to see Barry Sullivan and Luther Adler together in a Fred S Sear's crime flick and produced by the terrible Sam Katzman who, for once, doesn't bring us some lousy junk material. That doesn't make it a terrific crime flick however just an acceptable time waster,, with too much off voice, as in an "expose" cime film. Good photography and good directing. Do not confound this Fred Sears' MIAMI STORY with Fred Sears' MIAMI EXPOSE made just a bit later. Same kind of stuff. I prefered CHICAGO SYNDICATE and also INSIDE DETROIT, also from the same Sears- Katzman collaboration, for whom the best result is and will forever remain EARTH VS FLYING SAUCERS.

Viewed Out of Time these 1950's Police Procedurals and City Exposes, both Sub-Genres of Film-Noir, are so Blatantly Chest-Thumping "The Authorities are Your Friend and We Got This"...

Reek of Post-War Propaganda Platitudes to Placate and Control the Masses, it is a Wonder that Anyone at the Time didn't Barf on Their Britches at such Jingoism.

But Apparently Not, and it was a Common Opening to make Audiences Feel Safe and Sound in America.

In this one it is one of Miami's Senators.

Moving On...The Film is Slightly Above Average for its Type with some Stylish Blood-Letting and the Movie is Draped with Shadows.

Barry Sullivan is His Manly Self Punching and Assaulting Everyone in Sight, even Women, to Establish His Force as He Infiltrates Organized Crime in Miami.

B-Babe Beverly Garland, Plays a "Good Girl" in an Early Role and is Expressionistic Introduced to Sullivan with Face in Complete Shadow.

A Couple of Scenes Later Her Face is Beaten to a Pulp by Gangsters because..."She Clammed Up"...

Not Tolerated by the Mob even though this is Seaside.