Hoodlum Empire

Is blood thicker than perjury?
HOODLUM EMPIRE is a late-era film noir with a solid cast headed by Brian Donlevy. The story was clearly influenced by the many then-ongoing government investigations into mob and Communist activities.

SYNOPSIS--
Gang kingpin Nick Mancani's nephew (Joe) is being investigated by a Congressional committee on organized crime. The older man's violent associate (Charley) wants to make sure Joe won't be alive for his court date, but Nick refuses to allow a "hit." While Charley appears in front of the committee, part of Joe's story is told in flashback.

Upon returning stateside, WWII vet Joe tells his uncle he has no interest in inheriting the family "business" and wants to go straight. Flash to the present: After Charley's cleverly-crafted testimony implicates Joe in gang activities, he kidnaps the young man in order to kill him, but again Nick intercedes. Joe's uncle tells him that he's been set up for a fall, which Nick believes is preferable to being...

Another Good Release From Olive
The image quality on Hoodlum Empire is crisp and I'm happy to report the movie is pretty good too. Since Olive apparently has access to the Republic Library I wish they'd release the old Stories of the Century TV series. And what about some of those 40s horror flicks like Vampire's Ghost. That would be fun too.

THE MOB BETRAYS ONE OF ITS OWN
HOODLUM EMPIRE IS A WEAK FILM NOIR USING THE SEMI DOCUMENTARY STYLE OF SHOWING HOW A WAR HERO BECAUSE OF HIS FAMILY RELATIONS IS TIED TO THE MOB. THIS FILM WOULD PROBABLY A 4 STAR IF THE FILM WASNT A CLONE FOR "NEW YORK CONFIDENTIAL" AND MANY OTHER FILM NOIRS CREATED IN THE EARLY FIFTIES. THE BEST PART OF THE FILM THAT MAKES IT WORTH SEEING IS THE ACTING OF LUTHER ADLER WHO ALWAYS SEEMS TO GIVE A FANTASTIC PERFORMANCE IN WHAT EVER FILM HE IS IN. ADLER'S PERFORMANCE AS "GODFATHER" BRINGS A CREEDENCE TO THE FILM AND MAKES IT WORTHWHILE. KUDOS TO CLAIRE TREVOR WHO IS ALSO GIVE A FINE PERFORMANCE AS A GANGLAND MOLL. AGAIN I GIVE THIS 4 STARS INSTEAD OF THREE FOR THESE TWO ACTORS PERFORMANCES.

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