Code Two

The first half of this modest 69-minute movie tells, in semi-documentary fashion, of the training of rookie cops in early 1950s Los Angeles. Needless to say, all these rookies are white males but it's the "dated" quality of the movie which lends it a curiosity value as an artifact of its time. Police buffs should enjoy looking over the equipment, the uniforms, the training techniques, the investigation methods, etc.

A let's-catch-the-cop-killers plot takes over in the second half. It's minor stuff but affords an opportunity to look over a cast soon to find greater success in TV westerns. There's Robert ("Wagon Train") Horton and Jeff ("Jefferson Drum") Richards and -- in a small part -- Chuck ("The Rifleman") Connors. Rounding out the cast of cops are Ralph Meeker and Keenan Wynn. There's a certain "fetish" appeal in seeing these men in boots and leather jackets and motorcycle pants, and Meeker, Horton, and Richards also do a "beefcake" scene by a lake where they appear in swimsuits. (Richards must have tipped the wardrobe department to give him the snuggest-fitting suit.)

A few scenes appear to be shot on actual L.A. streets but much of it is recognizable as the MGM back-lot. Somewhere, on one of those hills, Robert Horton would soon be stripped to his shorts and tortured by North Korean guards in "Prisoner of War."

Director Fred Wilcox later helmed the classic "Forbidden Planet."

Code Two from MGM's B picture unit is the story of three rookie cops at the Police Academy and then their first assignments on motor patrol with the LAPD. This is not a Police Academy film by any means, it could have been done by Jack Webb. At Warner Brothers in the Thirties the rookie with the big mouth and attitude would have been played by Jimmy Cagney.

And the training officer would have been played by Pat O'Brien. Here at MGM in the Fifties the parts are played by Ralph Meeker and Keenan Wynn respectively. The other two rookies are Jeff Richards and Robert Horton.

All three opt for motorcycle patrol and within days of being assigned Richards is killed when he stops a truck doing a little smuggling. After that Meeker loses the attitude and he and Horton take leave just to find Jeff Richards' killers.

Code Two is a combination of a long Dragnet episode and one of those basic training military films. Meeker is kind of a lovable lout who gets real serious as the occasion calls.

There's some good Los Angeles location photography and nicely staged action sequences. All in all an acceptable B programmer.

Have for a while been on a roll tracking down and watching not so well known (near-obscure in some cases) films from filmographies of actors/actresses that varied from very famous to practically forgotten today. In 'Code Two's' case Ralph Meeker and Keenan Wynn were the best-known of the cast. Also have always really liked the genre and liked the concept, so they were further reasons for wanting to see 'Code Two'. If it weren't for me seeing a few of Meeker's films recently, this film's existence would still be unknown to me.

On the whole, 'Code Two' is worth tracking down, even non-motorcycling fans should find some worth (speaking as one but appreciate them), and that it is near-forgotten today is not that deserved. It is not a great film, or an essential, and is a film of two halves in my view, one a good deal stronger than the other. There are though a lot of strong things about it and anybody that loves the genre should see it for at least completest sake.

'Code Two' isn't perfect. Some of the first half is nostalgic and amusing and the atmosphere of the academy is done accurately, but it is also rather exposition-heavy, thin on plot and takes too long to set up. The second half is certainly much better, but it did mean that it was like seeing two films in one and of two different tones, one more nostalgic and light-hearted and the other grittier and more tough.

Meeker does give a confident performance in the lead and it is the sort of role that suits him well, sadly though Chuck is agreed quite obnoxious and not easy to get behind. The very end felt on the cheesy side and jarred by the quite suspenseful build up.

However, 'Code Two' has a very effectively noir-ish look in especially the second half. The semi-docmentary look of the truly startling and quite brutal opening is also incredibly effective and hits hard. The music serves its purpose well and fits at least, not over-emphasising the mood. The direction is assured and a good mix of affectionate and unyielding on the most part, apart from some lapses in momentum in more expositionary moments. The motorcycles are very cool and will be a treat for anybody that has an interest in them.

The script has entertainment value and tautness and while the first half was for me flawed the film did start off brilliantly with an opening that as said hits hard. The second half, also as already said, is the stronger and much more consistent half. It isn't earth shattering originality wise, but more than makes up for it with its tight pace, its grim tension and its non-holding back atmosphere. Meeker, despite his character, carries the film well and is very well supported by Wynn (as a contender for the most interesting character), sympathetic Elaine Stewart and Robert Horton.

All in all, uneven but above average curiosity. 6/10

Corny but enjoyable crime story about rookie LA motorcycle cops, Ralph Meeker and Jeff Richards. It's kind of a 1950s version of "CHiPs." Meeker and Richards face typical street cop challenges, but the film turns a bit serious when Richards is killed and Meeker goes after those responsible. I enjoyed the use of real-life locations and I always enjoy Meeker, so that was enough to elevate the cornball script.

Solid little programmer from MGM's B period. The documentary influence of TV's Dragnet (1951-1959) is apparent in the early police training segment that looks like it was done at the actual Academy. Three trainees buddy-up there, but later switch to the better-paying motorcycle division. There they get involved with black market beef haulers and excitement ensues. Director Wilcox keeps things moving smoothly, while the filming in and around LA lends a realistic feel. Then too, Wynn gets to practice his tart brand of sarcasm as a tough but fair training officer, lending helpful color. As could be expected, the girls (Forrest and Stewart) are strictly secondary, as wife and girlfriend, respectively.

Meeker gets to play a cocky trainee in what could have been a warm-up for his classic Mike Hammer in Kiss Me Deadly (1955). I hope they paid him double for all his stunt work at the end. He earns it. For fans of two-wheelers, there's a lot of motorcycle cross-country action that shows off their rugged versatility. And what a coincidence, as another reviewer points out, that so many of the male cast went on to cowboy starring roles on TV—look for Chuck Connors as a deputy sheriff in an office scene about 2/3 of the way through. All in all, it's a solid programmer of the sort soon to migrate to TV, but holds interest, nevertheless.