Notte di fuoco

In some ways, "Radio Patrol" seems like a cheap B-movie from Universal. After all, it's only about an hour long and features characters that seem more like caricatures than real people at times. However, it also has a depth to it...especially towards the end...that make it a special movie.

The story begins at the police academy and follows a group of rookies from the school to the beat. While not exactly realistic, the unnamed town in the movie seems to have enough crime and gang activity for New York, Chicago and Detroit all rolled into one! A huge problem for these cops is the money the gangs pour into the town...and the graft they are more than willing to offer these underpaid cops. Where will it all end?

One of the best things about this film is the minor character played by John Lester Johnson. While his nickname 'Smokey' isn't exactly enlightened, for the 1930s he really is given a great part. His black officer is NOT some token or inferior cop...he's one of the guys. He jokes with them, showers with them at the academy and is accepted as just a brother officer...which is VERY unusual for 1932 and very progressive.

Apart from him, the story is VERY gritty and violent. In one scene late in the film, a cop has run out of bullets, so he resorts to smashing the crook with a sledge hammer!!! Yikes! Overall, a very enjoyable film that surprised me...in several positive ways.