Damn Citizen

Based on fact (and with appearances by several of the actual people involved), this tells the story of a police chief appointed by the state of Louisiana to rid its state police force of entrenched corruption. This is a taut, straightforward little film, in the tradition of "The Phenix City Story," and director Robert Gordon, while no Phil Karlson, does a good job on a limited budget and with a competent but non-star cast. Keith Andes is quite effective as the lawman who came up against a bit more than he expected, and Gene Evans (nice to see him in a good-guy role for once) complements him well as a state trooper who is as disgusted by the corruption as Andes is. An interesting story helped along by some sharp dialogue, tight pacing and good performances by most of the cast (there are a few less-than-inspired ones that tend to slow things down a bit, but not fatally) make this little-known film one to watch.