Monday, April 22, 2019

The Gelignite Gang (1956)

Although nothing that special or unusual The Gelignite Gang is a decent enough crime drama.

A brutal gang is robbing (with explosives hence the name of the gang) and killing unfortunates left, right and centre. An insurance investigator (and imported American) Jimmy Baxter (Wayne Morris) is on the case though is warned off by the gang, and anyone who tries to rat on the gang is quickly despatched...

Despite this Baxter and his boss John Rutherford (Patrick Holt) continue the investigation and with the help of Baxter's squeeze (and secretary) Sally Morton (Sandra Dorne) begin to track down the gang and try and unravel who the Mr Big (or G) is behind the crimes...

The film is fast moving though full of cliches. Eric Pohlmann in particular chews the scenery as the nightclub boss in the know and with a regular supply of vague but sinister threats. Despite everything the film is undeniably fun. The identity of Mr G is a secret though a seasoned watcher of these kinds of films will probably guess who is it quite quickly!