Hoodlum Empire (1952)

43% want to see it
(7 ratings)

The Kefauver Committee's ongoing investigation of organized crime spawned several "Torn from Today's Headlines!" films in the early 1950s. Republic's Hoodlum Empire concerns the efforts by gangster Joe Gray (John Russell) to get out of the rackets after WW II. Part of Gray's "reclamation" is to… More The Kefauver Committee's ongoing investigation of organized crime spawned several "Torn from Today's Headlines!" films in the early 1950s. Republic's Hoodlum Empire concerns the efforts by gangster Joe Gray (John Russell) to get out of the rackets after WW II. Part of Gray's "reclamation" is to testify at a public hearing, prompting a series of flashbacks. Part of the fun is to guess who all the "fictional" criminals are really supposed to be: Luther Adler's character may be called "Nicky Mancini," for example, but for all intents and purposes Adler is playing Frank "Fifth Amendment" Costello. Other famous underworld personages are impersonated by Claire Trevor, Forrest Tucker and Roy Barcroft, while the steadfast Estes Kefauver counterpart is portrayed by Brian Donlevy. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 38 min.
Directed By: Joseph Kane
Written By: Bruce Manning, Bob Considine
Genres: Drama

Critic Reviews

Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
The gangster melodramatics are all too familiar.

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Cast

            Brian Donlevy as Sen. Bill Stephens

            Claire Trevor as Connie Williams

            Forrest Tucker as Charley Pignatalli

            Vera Ralston as Marte Dufour

            Luther Adler as Nicky Mansani

            John Russell as Joe Gray

            Gene Lockhart as Sen. Tower

            Grant Withers as Rev. Andrews

            Taylor Holmes as Benjamin Lawton

            Roy Barcroft as Louie Draper

            William Murphy as Pete Dailey

            Richard Jaeckel as Ted Dawson

            Don Beddoe as Sen. Blake

            Roy Roberts as Chief Tayls

            Richard Benedict as Tanner

            Phillip Pine as Louis Barretti

            Damian O'Flynn as Foster

            Pat Flaherty as Mikkelson

            Whit Bissell as Filby

            Mikel Conrad as Chunce

            Tony Dante as Tommy

            Matty Fain as Eddie Fostie

            Elizabeth Flournoy as Miss Adams

            Eddie Foster as Doorman

            Don Haggerty as Mark Flynn

            John Halloran as Inspector Willard

            Thomas Brown Henry as Cmdr. Mermant

            Gil Herman as Officer O'Neil

            Douglas Kennedy as Brinkley

            Fred Kohler Jr. as German Soldier

            Paul Livermore as Mike

            Sydney Mason as Burns

            Tom Monroe as Rocco

            Dick Paxton as Elevator Operator

            John M. Pickard as Man

            Francis Pierlot as Uncle Jean

            Richard Reeves as Rollins

            Ric Roman as Fergus

            Sam Scar as Sporty

            William Schallert as Inquiry Clerk

            Lee Shumway as US Marshal

            Sid Tomack as Meyers

            Charles Trowbridge as Commissioner Garrison

            Stanley Waxman as Lonnie

            Dick Wessel as Keiller

            Mervin Williams as Floyd the Servant

            Jack Pennick as Tracey

            Joe Bailey as Eckert of the FBI

            Andy Brennan as Taxi Driver

            Sarah Spencer as Mrs. Stephens

            George Volk as Finter

            John Phillips as Radio Commander
See full cast

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