A taut, tense crime melodrama from Paramount - which is probably why no one has heard of it. As the website tells us, Universal owns all Paramount films made between 1929 and 1949, and apparently holds them all hostage in a vault somewhere. But here is one they should release, as it is better than your average gangster picture. Much better.
Ma Webster (Blanche Yurka) is the head of a family of 30's bank robbers, and she is riveting in the role. Tough and gutsy, she leads authorities on a chase through several states. She is a martinet and rules her five sons with an iron hand. Also in the gang is J. Carroll Naish. He is insubordinate and a malcontent, but she puts up with him because he is a cold-blooded killer who will cover for her boys during bank robberies.
"Queen Of The Mob" is Blanche Yurka's picture and could be the meatiest role she ever had - even more so than Mme. DeFarge in "A Tale Of Two Cities". The FBI agents tracking her gang are Ralph Bellamy and assisted by Jack Carson. It is an intense, violent study of 30's crime and criminals and the men sworn to bring them to justice.
Ma Webster (Blanche Yurka) is the head of a family of 30's bank robbers, and she is riveting in the role. Tough and gutsy, she leads authorities on a chase through several states. She is a martinet and rules her five sons with an iron hand. Also in the gang is J. Carroll Naish. He is insubordinate and a malcontent, but she puts up with him because he is a cold-blooded killer who will cover for her boys during bank robberies.
"Queen Of The Mob" is Blanche Yurka's picture and could be the meatiest role she ever had - even more so than Mme. DeFarge in "A Tale Of Two Cities". The FBI agents tracking her gang are Ralph Bellamy and assisted by Jack Carson. It is an intense, violent study of 30's crime and criminals and the men sworn to bring them to justice.