Illegal (1955)

User Rating:

7.0/10   

Director:

Lewis Allen

Writers:

W.R. Burnett (writer)
Frank J. Collins (play)
(more)

Release Date:

24 August 1956 (Finland)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Film-Noir

Tagline:

He was a guy who marked 100 men for death - until a blonde called 'Angel' O'Hara marked him for life!

Plot:

After an overly aggressive district attorney unknowingly sends an innocent man to the chair, he resigns, turns to drink, and acquires a criminal clientele.

Plot Keywords:

Electric Chair | Innocent Man | Courtroom | District Attorney | Impressionists

Cast

Edward G. Robinson	...	Victor Scott
Nina Foch	...	Ellen Miles
Hugh Marlowe	...	Ray Borden
Robert Ellenstein	...	Joe Knight
DeForest Kelley	...	Edward Clary
Jay Adler	...	Joseph Carter
James McCallion	...	Allen Parker
Edward Platt	...	Ralph Ford
Albert Dekker	...	Frank Garland
Jan Merlin	...	Andy Garth
Ellen Corby	...	Miss Hinkel
Jayne Mansfield	...	Angel O'Hara
Henry Kulky	...	Taylor
Addison Richards	...	Steve Harper
Howard St. John	...	E.A. Smith
Lawrence Dobkin	...	Al Carol
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Charlie Hall	...	Bellboy
Chris Alcaide	...	Policeman (uncredited)
Roxanne Arlen	...	Ginnie Hathaway (uncredited)
Phil Arnold	...	News Vendor (uncredited)
Baynes Barron	...	District Attorney's Man (uncredited)
Julie Bennett	...	Miss Worth (uncredited)
John Cliff	...	Bar Patron (uncredited)
John Close	...	Guard (uncredited)
Fred Coby	...	Guard (uncredited)
Diana Darrin	...	Dorothy, Secretary (uncredited)
Pauline Drake	...	Woman (uncredited)
Charles Evans	...	Judge (uncredited)
Mark Hanna	...	Reporter (uncredited)
Jonathan Hole	...	Doctor (uncredited)
Clark Howat	...	George Graves (uncredited)
Larry Hudson	...	Detective (uncredited)
John Larch	...	District Attorney's Man (uncredited)
Kathy Marlowe	...	Blonde Girl (uncredited)
John McKee	...	Detective (uncredited)
Charles Meredith	...	Judge (uncredited)
Eleanor Moore	...	Mrs. John Seltzer (uncredited)
Stewart Nedd	...	Phillips (uncredited)
Grandon Rhodes	...	John Seltzer (uncredited)
George Ross	...	Policeman (uncredited)
Henry Rowland	...	Jailer (uncredited)
Ted Stanhope	...	Bailiff (uncredited)
Marjorie Stapp	...	Night Orderly (uncredited)
Archie Twitchell	...	Mr. Manning (uncredited)
Herb Vigran	...	Policeman (uncredited)
Max Wagner	...	Bartender (uncredited)
Gil Warren	...	Foreman (uncredited)
Justice Watson	...	Judge Wick (uncredited)
Howard Wendell	...	John (uncredited)

Directed by
Lewis Allen

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
W.R. Burnett		writer
Frank J. Collins		play "The Mouthpiece"
James R. Webb		writer

Produced by
Frank P. Rosenberg	....	producer

Original Music by
Max Steiner

Cinematography by
J. Peverell Marley

Film Editing by
Thomas Reilly

Art Direction by
Stanley Fleischer

Set Decoration by
William Wallace

Costume Design by
Moss Mabry

Makeup Department
Gordon Bau	....	makeup artist

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Philip Quinn	....	assistant director

Sound Department
Stanley Jones	....	sound

Music Department
Murray Cutter	....	orchestrator

Production Companies

• Warner Bros. Pictures

Distributors

• Warner Bros. Pictures (1955) (USA) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (195?) (Belgium) (theatrical)
• Warner Home Video (2007) (USA) (DVD)

Runtime:

88 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Certification:

Norway:16 | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15

Filming Locations:

Criminal Courts Building - 210 W. Temple Street, Downtown, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Trivia:

Frank Garland's impressive collection of Impressionist art actually was loaned to the film by collector Edward G. Robinson. Included are works by Gaugin, Degas, Duran, and Robinson's wife, Gladys Lloyd.

Quotes:

Frank Garland: Get up that $10,000, or you won't be chasing ambulances anymore. They'll be chasing you!

Movie Connections:

References Miracle in the Rain (1956)

Soundtrack:

Too Marvelous for Words

"I Don't Blame People; I Bury Them!"

This movie may not look like a film noir, but there are some great film noir-type lines here, like the one I used in the subject head. I heard at least a dozen that I almost laughed out loud at because they were so good and/or clever. This is a not a "B" film with its dialog and terrific cast.

I agree it's not one that is terribly exciting, either, but it has more than its share of good points. One good starting point is the star: Edward G. Robinson. It's tough to knock a film with him in the lead. It's a little talky but there are some dramatic, surprising moments, too, with Robinson's "Victor Scott," doing some things you have to see to believe.

Nina Foch, Hugh Marlowe and Albert Dekker are all good in key roles, but I found it more interesting at times to see familiar faces in the supporting characters. Actors such as Ellen Corby ("Miss Hinkel"), DeForest Kelley ("Edward Clary"), Edward Platt ("Ralph Ford"), Jayne Mansfield ("Angel O'Hara"), Henry Kulky ("Taylor), Jan Merlin ("Andrew Garth") and a few others, were all fascinating. I liked Corby, in particular. You may not know all their names, but you know their faces. Kelley starred for years on "Star Trek" and Platt was the boss in "Get Smart." In Mansfield's case, you know more than just her face!

This is the first half of a film noir twin-bill recently offered on DVD. The other film is "The Big Steal," so you get two pretty good movies for the price of one.