**Spoilers** The person who compared his role to Joe Pesci in Goodfellas makes a good comparison. They create mean psychos we love to watch on the screen and of course would never want to run into in real life. His characters little speech about squealers, his laugh and helping the handicapped down the stairs is what most people will best remember from this film.
Subtract Richard Widmarks work here and you are left with what is a dull and routine film to sit through.
Many classic noirs have dated elements of their time but there is enough there to make up for it - great dialogue, memorable leading ladies like Rita Hayworth. Here the woman is dull and one-note; Nick Biancos kids make your teeth clench and make you wish Tommy Udo would actually get to have some "fun" with them like he so kindly offers his pal.
Victure Mature looks much older than 29 (the age mentioned for his character) but the main problem is he never seems menacing or acts much like a crook (somebody like Sterling Hayden or Richard Conte would have been better). He is far better as a copper like in 'Cry of the City'.
Overall though it's better than the 1995 remake where beefed-up Nicholas Cage like Widmark gets to steal the show.
Subtract Richard Widmarks work here and you are left with what is a dull and routine film to sit through.
Many classic noirs have dated elements of their time but there is enough there to make up for it - great dialogue, memorable leading ladies like Rita Hayworth. Here the woman is dull and one-note; Nick Biancos kids make your teeth clench and make you wish Tommy Udo would actually get to have some "fun" with them like he so kindly offers his pal.
Victure Mature looks much older than 29 (the age mentioned for his character) but the main problem is he never seems menacing or acts much like a crook (somebody like Sterling Hayden or Richard Conte would have been better). He is far better as a copper like in 'Cry of the City'.
Overall though it's better than the 1995 remake where beefed-up Nicholas Cage like Widmark gets to steal the show.