刑警大队[Film Review] Underworld U.S.A. (1961) 6.7/10分集剧情
SamuelFuller’sNeo-NoirB-picture,UNDERWORLDU.S.A.isaslick,brisk,straight-forwardavengetaleoperatedbyTollyDevlin(Robertson),whowitnessedhisfather’smurderatthehandsoffourhoodlumswhenhewas14,andrevengeisadishbetterservedcold,20yearslater,heexactshisplantogainontheseperpetrators,onlynow,threeofthemareaffiliatedtoacrimeorganizationheadedbyEarlConnors(Emhardt),andeventually,anoverhangingquestionwritlarge,aftergettingevenforhisfather,canTolly’ssenseofjusticeleavetheevilEarlbehind?Fullerismostcompetentineconomizingthenowthreadbareplotwithintheproduction’snone-too-lavishsetting,close-upswithininteriorspacesaresharplysaltedwithstrikingchiaroscurothatsufficientlyreflectsthesuspensewhenalonewolfTollyflirtswithdangerinhisinfiltratingderring-do,butwhenheteamsupwithacrime-fightingdistrictattorneyJohnDriscoll(Gates),andfacilelyplaysEarloffagainsthisunsuspectingtargets,thestorylosesitscredibilityabit.Howevercold-blooded,toconsecutivelydispatchhistwomostimportanthenchmenmerelyonthebasisofa(cod)policerecordandaneyewitnessofacurtmeeting,forabossofsuchimport,EarlConnorsshouldhaveatleastburrowedintotheevidencesdeeperbeforeanyknee-jerkreaction,perhaps,scriptwritingisn’tFuller’sstrongestsuit.TherearetwoimportantwomeninTolly’slife,Sandy(Kay),anoldflameofhisfather,isamother-figuretohim,whoisreadytoadmonishhimatthedropofahat,especiallytobolsterakindheartedCuddles(Dorn,anaturallytelegenicandaffectionatedamselindistress),whoeventuallydecidestogetshotofherpastoftrick-turningandsmall-timeinfraction,andformafamilywithTolly,onlymeetswiththelatter’sridicule.ItisuptoafierySandytobringhimtohissensesthathemighthaveafuturewithCuddles,however,outofhisrighteousness(thereisathen-shockingsequenceofahitmanrunningoverateenagegirlonabicycle)andahellbentresolutiontogostraightafterhisaccomplishedpayback,hehasonelastenemytoeradicate,andtheoutcome,conditionedbyHarrySukman’srich,imposingscore,mightnotbeentirelyfavorabletohim.Inthemain,UNDERWORLDU.S.A.isapristinenihilistictaleandCliffRobertsonbuoyantlyinhabitshisrolewithblisteringpanacheandcompassion,whichonlymakeshisdenouementamournfulregret,therearesomeperniciousconsequencesofmonomania,withwhichFullershouldbequiteaufait.referentialentries:Fuller’sTHECRIMSONKIMONO(1959,7.1/10);LewisAllen’sAPPOINTMENTWITHDANGER(1950,6.2/10).
