You’re romancing me like I’m Liberace
Today on Classic Movie Review, we are taking on Film Noir Chicago Syndicate (1955)[1].
Before we get going, I want to thank poetcomic1 for commenting on the cows fighting in Twelve O’Clock High (1949). Thanks for pointing that out.
On iMDB.com, this movie has a perfectly acceptable 6.5[2] rating. On Rottentomatoes.com, the film has neither a Tomatometer nor an audience score[3].
New York Times film critic Bosley Crowther said on June 21, 1955:
“It looks as though Dennis O’Keefe is on a bit of a geographical kick. Last Friday he turned up at the Palace in a little something called “Las Vegas Shakedown.” Yesterday he appeared at the Criterion in “Chicago Syndicate.” But aside from geographical location, there is not much to distinguish the two films.”
He later stated:
“This is a standard melodrama in which a bright spot is Allison Hayes, a tall and agreeable young lady who gives considerable aid to the somewhat battered Mr. O’Keefe.”[4]
I agree with this last part as Allison Hayes has an Ava Gardner thing going on.
Actors – Chicago Syndicate (1955)
Returning
Dennis O’Keefe plays accountant turned investigator Barry Amsterdam. O’Keefe was first covered in Las Vegas Shakedown (1955). Bosley Crowther didn’t like that one either.
New
Paul Stewart played the villain Arnold ‘Arnie’ Valent. Stewart was born in 1908 in New York City. Stewart graduated from Columbia University. Having been interested in acting since he was a teen, Stewart made his Broadway debut in 1931. The quality of his work got him the attention of Orson Wells, and Stewart became a founding member of the Mercury Theatre group.
Stewart was a part of the “The War of the Worlds” radio broadcast. He was also cast in Citizen Kane (1941). His performance in Citizen Kane (1941) opened many film opportunities such as Johnny Eager (1941), Mr. Lucky (1943), Champion (1949), Illegal Entry (1949), Twelve O’Clock High (1949), Carbine Williams (1952), Deadline – U.S.A. (1952), The Bad and the Beautiful (1952), Chicago Syndicate (1955), Kiss Me Deadly (1955), and King Creole (1958).
Stewart was in high demand for television from early shows like “Peter Gunn” 1958-1961 and as late as “Remington Steele” 1982-1987. Stewart also did a lot of voice work beginning in the 1970s.
In 1974, Stewart had a heart attack. His health limited his work. In 1986, he died of a heart attack.
Allison Hayes played Sue Morton and someone else. Hayes was born in West Virginia in 1930. Hayes won the title of e of Miss District of Columbia and competed in the 1949 Miss America pageant. Following the contest, she began working on local television.
Hayes first credited role was in Francis Joins the WACS (1954). You can’t go wrong with a talking Army mule. She landed supporting roles in costume dramas. She landed in some Film Noirs with Double Jeopardy (1955), Chicago Syndicate (1955), The Steel Jungle (1956), and Hong Kong Confidential (1958). She made many films, including the one she is most known for, Attack of the 50 Foot Woman (1958).
Hayes did well in horrors and westerns with films such as Count Three and Pray (1955), Gunslinger (1956), The Undead (1957), The Disembodied (1957), and The Crawling Hand (1963).
By the late 1950s and early 1960s, Hayes was regularly working in television. Her health began to fail. Receiving no help from doctors, she researched and determined that she was suffering from lead poisoning. She traced the culprit to the unregulated calcium supplements she was taking.
In 1976, Hayes was diagnosed with Leukemia. She died in 1977 at the age of 46.
Abbe Lane played songbird Connie Peters. Lane was born in 1932 in New York City. Lane is known more for being married to Xavier Cugat than for her movies. Lane is known for Chicago Syndicate (1955), A sud niente di nuovo (1957), Caesar Against the Pirates (1962), and most notably as the stewardess in Twilight Zone: The Movie (1983) in the segment “Nightmare at 20,000 Feet.” At the time of this writing, she is still alive.
Story – Chicago Syndicate (1955)
The credits’ role over an aerial view of Chicago. The narrator tells of Chicago’s industry and how Al Capone was driven out, but a new syndicate had taken over, and it was worse than the Prohibition Era. The narration is voiced by David Healey (Richard H. Cutting).
Healey, a newspaper editor, is sitting in an office. A man named Nelson Kern, who was an accountant, has just informed him how the syndicate was hiding behind legitimate businesses. Shortly after, Nelson is gunned down in the street by two thugs in a sedan. Healey sees the dead man on the sidewalk. He vows to himself that the syndicate must be broken.
Before the story hits the papers, the thugs throw the gun off a bridge, but it lands on a plying. The paper says that The syndicate silenced Kern. After hearing the news, Nelson’s wife kills herself. The couple’s daughter Joyce Kern (Allison Hayes) is missing in Europe.
Some boys playing around find the murder weapon. Healey meets with a group of influential city businessmen. Also present are Det. Lt. Robert Fenton (John Zaremba) and state attorney Pat Winters (Hugh Sanders). Before his death, Kern worked for a company controlled by Arnold ‘Arnie’ Valent (Paul Stewart). When Kern found out they were criminals, he went to the newspaper. Kern had wanted protection for his family in exchange for information.
Det. Fenton says hard evidence is hard to obtain. The state attorney says the shooter has been identified by the gun. Healey asks the group of men to fund the operation that will take down the syndicate.
Det. Fenton describes a man he commanded in World War II, who has an education as a CPA, and works for the Internal Revenue Service. The man being described is Barry Amsterdam (Dennis O’Keefe). The detective picks him up, and they discuss the operation. Barry is not overly excited by the offer. When they offer him $60,000 if he completes the job, he decides yes.
The scene changes to a nightclub. Connie Peters (Abbe Lane) is singing and backed up by Xavier Cugat and his orchestra. Sue Morton (Allison Hayes) is at the bar when Barry sits down. Sue wants to gamble, and her date is against it. The date leaves, and Sue goes to the illegal gambling room. Barry follows and piggybacks her through security.
Sue brushes Barry off, and he looks around the joint. He goes to the roulette table and gives Sue unsolicited gambling advice. He keeps pestering her as she drinks at the bar. One of the club managers, Brad Lacy (Mark Hanna), tells Sue that they will not cash her check.
Barry follows Lacy and tells him that he saw Mel, the shooter, kill Kern. Lacy takes the information to the other men in the backroom. The men set up a bump and pick Barry’s pocket. As Barry drives home, he notices two thugs are following him. They ambush Barry and give him a good crack on the head. They load Barry in the car.
Barry wakes in an expensive apartment with Connie Peters, ‘Arnie’ Valent, and several thugs. Barry makes out that he intended to be picked up. Barry has an article indicating that he is an accounting thief and has just been released from prison. Barry says that he didn’t want to give the information to the police, and he wants to be paid. Arnie doesn’t want any bad press about the killing. Arnie offers Barry a job. He tells him to go to the insurance company where Kern worked. Barry starts his job the following day by reporting to Jack Roper (George Brand).
At his apartment, Arnie is giving his girlfriend Connie a hard time about everything she does. Barry settles into the straight job. Barry sees that some of Arnie’s men are tailing him. Barry has to shake the tail so he can meet his contact at the Chicago Museum of Natural History. Sidenote – the Tsavo lions are there. You should see them and The Ghost and the Darkness (1996). He slips his tail long enough to deliver the message to start the neckless operation.
Barry sucks up to Brand by showing how he can avoid paying a $75,000 claim with a $5,000 fee for himself. The boss meets with Arnie and decides to let Barry try his scheme. Barry has a dancer sign away the claim for the neckless, but it is all a setup. She never had a necklace. The dame tips him off that Roper and Arnie are at the fights.
Barry goes to the fights, and Arnie lets him sit in one of his seats. Barry gives Roper the released claim. Arnie is pleased. Barry talks with Arnie about making some good money.
Arnie gives Barry a fake set of books to examine. It’s a test to see if Barry will turn him into the feds. Barry passes the test.
When Barry gets home that night, two cops are waiting in his apartment. They are asking about the Kern murder. One of the cops slugs him, and they try to beat the information out of him. Barry fights back and beats the two cops. They must have been in the Navy during the war.
Barry goes to Arnie’s place and wakes him up. Barry says he is quitting. The cops were fake and worked for Arnie. Arnie tells Barry he can now make big money. He wants Barry to start making spot checks on the gangsters to see who is holding out on Arnie. Barry would get 10 percent of everything he finds.
In this new job, Barry learns the national layout of the syndicate. The syndicate makes millions annually in the rackets and used the money to run clubs to laundry the money. This racket included ice companies that can charge bars for undelivered ice. Once the money comes through the insurance company, it was funneled into legitimate businesses. Barry gets to know all of the big shots.
At a party, Connie is not happy that Arnie is spending so much time with Barry. Sue is there, and she is harsh with Barry. Barry is taken into the backroom. Lacy tells Sue that Barry is a big deal. Arnie tells the big wheelers what Barry has found out. They are to send out the word that there will be no more stealing.
Now Sue is Barry’s best friend. Sue asks Barry to take her home. A drunk Connie busts up the happy reunion. Arnie has her removed.
At Sue’s place, they have drinks and listen to music. Barry tells Sue she is romancing him like he was Liberace. You say that word a lot. I don’t think it means what you think it means. They verbally spar for a while. Barry asks why she is dating up the organizational chart.
Barry breaks a glass and then starts snooping around Sue’s apartment while she is out of the room. He finds a suitcase with a Paris sticker and the initials JK. Sue comes out with a gun, and Barry says he knows she is Joyce Kern. Barry is pretty cool with a pistol in his face. Joyce wants to know who killed her father. He slaps the gun out of her hand. He tells her to get out of town before Arnie finds out who she is.
Barry goes to the hospital to talk with Healey and the law enforcement. They had to tell Joyce that Barry was a cop. Barry thinks that Connie may have some information she is holding over Arnie.
Later Joyce shows up at Barry’s apartment to apologize. Barry asks her to stay out of the way. While they are talking, Arnie calls to say he is coming to pick him up. Barry doesn’t know where he is being taken, so he asks Joyce to tail them. In the car, Arnie tells Barry that they will meet his mother, Mrs. Valent (Carroll McComas). Arnie also says the books will all be in Barry’s name.
Mrs. Valent lives in a lower-income area. Arnie talks about growing up in the neighborhood. He is very proud. Joyce puts in a call to the detectives. Arnie’s books are at his mother’s house. The detectives head towards Mrs. Valent’s location. Barry is given the book and left alone to look over the numbers.
The cops show up and head to the apartment. While Barry is talking to Arnie’s mother, Arnie burns the records. The cops show up, and Barry hits a detective and passes the message that the book is gone. The cops play off their reason for coming, and Barry is clear.
Later that night, Joyce arrives with her father’s paperwork. Barry finds a receipt for microfilm. In the morning, Joyce goes to the company to see if the microfilm was ever picked up. A young lady had picked up the film earlier. The clerk confirms that it was a ledger that was microfilmed. They question Kern’s former secretary about the microfilm, and she doesn’t know anything. Joyce takes a picture of Connie to the microfilm clerk, and he IDs her as the woman that picked up the film.
That night, Healey meets with Barry and Joyce. Barry is ready to give up. The buzzer rings, and it’s one of Arnie’s men at the door. He sends his two guests into the backroom. The goon hears a noise and busts into the room. Joyce acts like she is getting dressed. The goon tells him to come to the Tropicana and bring Sue/Joyce along to make Connie jealous.
Connie is on one side of Arnie at the club, and Sue/Joyce is on the other side. Arnie and Barry go to the bar. Arnie asks about Barry’s relationship with Sue/Joyce. Arnie offers Connie in exchange, and Barry says no thanks. Back at the table, Connie slaps Sue/Joyce and gets a lap full of coffee for her trouble.
When Connie gets back, Barry is sitting alone. Barry tells her that Arnie is done with her. Connie goes on stage to do her act, and Barry leaves.
Connie spends a week calling for Arnie. Every time, Barry lies and says he is out with Sue/Joyce. Arnie sends Barry to tell Connie she is out. Barry meets Connie outside her apartment. Barry tells her to lay off Arnie, or it will end badly. She doesn’t take it well. The real cops come by and fire a few shots near Connie, so she will think Arnie wants her dead.
Some of Arnie’s goons grab Connie and take her to Arnie’s apartment. She says she can send a letter to the DA if she is bothered. She also mentions the microfilm. Arnie tries to slap it out of her. The two goons take her in the back and begin slapping her. Arnie, Barry, Chico (Xavier Cugat), and Sue/Joyce wait outside. Finally, Chico steps up and says a package Connie gave him is at a music store. Connie stumbles out and says Chico has killed her.
Arnie leaves for the music store and takes Barry with him. Sue/Joyce gets a break and calls the cops. She is caught in the act, but Connie knocks the goon out, and the message gets through. Arnie is given the case with the microfilm. Arnie wants to burn the film, but Barry slugs him and runs with the film.
They chase him through a railyard and shoot at him a few times. Barry runs into a warehouse, and the goons, including Arnie, keep firing at him. Barry jumps into an elevator, and one of the goons follows him. Barry beats the man senseless and gets his gun.
Arnie and the other goon come down and follow after Barry. Arnie shoots Barry in the leg. Barry shoots back and kills the goon. Barry jumps in the elevator and rides up. Above ground, the police are closing the entrances and entering the warehouse.
Barry uses his belt to tie off his wound. Arnie fires at him, and Barry is out of bullets. Barry runs into a crowded market with Arnie close behind. Arnie draws a bead on Barry, but the police gun him down before he can fire. Arnie’s mother sees him shot in the street.
Joyce arrives and goes to Barry as Mrs. Valent cradles her dying son.
The narration tells that the syndicate was destroyed.
I’ll be back with the Conclusions and World-Famous Short Summary directly.
Conclusions – Chicago Syndicate (1955)
On my list of All Film Noir Movies, I will place this movie at number 351, slightly above Las Vegas Shakedown (1955), because today’s movie had a slightly more interesting premise using an undercover accountant. Too bad it came down to a gun battle at the end.
The angled building with a clock tower seen during the closing narration is the Wrigley Building in Chicago, Illinois, completed in 1924 as the headquarters for the chewing gum company.[5]
I would be most remiss if I didn’t talk about the tax connection between All Capone and this movie. Today’s movie begins with Capone and his gang being driven out of Chicago. The truth is that Capone was never convicted of violent acts related to his criminal enterprises. There are a few great movies covering the rise and fall of Capone. These include Scarface (1932), Al Capone (1959), The St. Valentine’s Day Massacre (1967), and The Untouchables (1987).
In non-movieland, Capone was arrested on June 5, 1931, and charged with income tax evasion from 1925—1929[6]. He was convicted on five counts on October 17, 1931. His sentence was 11 years in federal prison. In addition, Capone was fined, had to pay court costs, back taxes, and interest on the same.
World-Famous Short Summary – Don’t tell anyone you have microfilm copies
Beware the moors.
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicago_Syndicate_(film)
[2] https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0047934/
[3] https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/chicago_syndicate
[4] https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1955/06/21/81860424.html?pageNumber=37
[5] https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0047934/trivia/
[6] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Capone
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