The end of prohibition is less than a year away and the gangsters are starting to look for other avenues to keep their criminal activity alive, Walter Winchell informs us in the opening narrative. Crime now is centered on such things as "the numbers racket, call girls, gambling and dope."
This story, however, taking place in early 1933, involves a guy who still wanted to control the liquor business and take over the speak-easies using strong-armed methods. The man: "Big Jim" Harrington, played well by Ted de Corsica.
"Big Jim's," number one thug in his gang is "Loxie" is played by one of my favorite character actors of that era: Timothy Carrey, who I first saw in the great film noir "The Killing" (1956). The twisted, sick grin on Carrey's face after he lights a match is about to (maybe) set nightclub owner "Benny Hoff" on fire is chilling! He has that sadistic grin throughout the program.
Other pleasant surprises are "Johnny Paycheck," played by Cameron Mitchell and "Renee Sullivan" played by Phyllis Coates. The latter was TV's first "Lois Lane" on the George Reeves- starring show. By the way, I wonder if the real Johnny Paycheck's parents got the idea for their kid's name watching this episode.
Anyway, as for Harrington and his brutality, the violence was a police matter but the whiskey, a federal one, which brings in our her "Elliott Ness" (Robert Stack) and The Untouchables.
The story is okay, not as good as looks like it's going to be after the first 5-10 minutes because they go too long on the relationship of Johnny and Benny, but it's nicely filmed and the actors make it worthwhile, especially Carrey, who never looked so evil....and Coates, who never looked so sexy.
This story, however, taking place in early 1933, involves a guy who still wanted to control the liquor business and take over the speak-easies using strong-armed methods. The man: "Big Jim" Harrington, played well by Ted de Corsica.
"Big Jim's," number one thug in his gang is "Loxie" is played by one of my favorite character actors of that era: Timothy Carrey, who I first saw in the great film noir "The Killing" (1956). The twisted, sick grin on Carrey's face after he lights a match is about to (maybe) set nightclub owner "Benny Hoff" on fire is chilling! He has that sadistic grin throughout the program.
Other pleasant surprises are "Johnny Paycheck," played by Cameron Mitchell and "Renee Sullivan" played by Phyllis Coates. The latter was TV's first "Lois Lane" on the George Reeves- starring show. By the way, I wonder if the real Johnny Paycheck's parents got the idea for their kid's name watching this episode.
Anyway, as for Harrington and his brutality, the violence was a police matter but the whiskey, a federal one, which brings in our her "Elliott Ness" (Robert Stack) and The Untouchables.
The story is okay, not as good as looks like it's going to be after the first 5-10 minutes because they go too long on the relationship of Johnny and Benny, but it's nicely filmed and the actors make it worthwhile, especially Carrey, who never looked so evil....and Coates, who never looked so sexy.
