Law of the Underworld

"Law of the Underworld" is an interesting variation on the crime films so popular in the 1930s. The story isn't a bad one, although some of the far-fetched plot twists are curious, including some of the naive moves on the part of the young couple; but we must remember the girl (Anne Shirley) is only 18 and the boy (Richard Bond) presumably is only a tad older. Chester Morris carries the show, of course, with his usual strong and haughty persona, all the while also showing his sensitive side. The cast played their roles well. I really enjoyed the discussions and negotiations on the fate of the gang's leadership, which included Lee Patrick in a role that she probably enjoyed tackling. Eduardo Cianelli's Rocky was perfectly and darkly menacing. Effective black and white cinematography and the expansive nightclub sets enhanced the acting skills on display. Also appreciated were the many long takes. And finally, noteworthy too was the use of full-head and face screen shots late in the film, something not often seen in the 1930s. This movie admittedly is by no means great, but it can be entertaining and I would expect happily viewed by followers of old-school crime films.