Underworld U.S.A (1961)

81% of users liked it
(529 ratings)

Cliff Robertson plays Tolly Devlin, an embittered ex-convict who has spent a lifetime tracking down the men who murdered his father. Desirous of handling matters on his own, Devlin pretends to be loyal to both the Mob and the Government, playing one against the other in hopes of flushing out the… More Cliff Robertson plays Tolly Devlin, an embittered ex-convict who has spent a lifetime tracking down the men who murdered his father. Desirous of handling matters on his own, Devlin pretends to be loyal to both the Mob and the Government, playing one against the other in hopes of flushing out the killers. He learns that the three surviving assassins are employed by a supposedly charitable "cover" operation known as National Projects. To get what he wants, Devlin ingratiates himself with mob boss (and outwardly solid citizen) Conners (Robert Emhardt). What Robertson didn't count on was falling in love with "Cuddles" (Dolores Dorn), which leads to his own downfall -- but not before justice is served. Producer/director/writer Fuller based Underworld USA on a series of "exposé" articles in The Saturday Evening Post; the film's release fortuitously occurred shortly after that infamous mob convention in Appalachin, New York. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 39 min.
Directed By: Sam Fuller, Samuel Fuller
Written By: Sam Fuller, Samuel Fuller
Genres: Drama, Classics

In Theaters: Jan 1, 1961 Wide
On DVD: Oct 27, 2009

Critic Reviews

Sean Axmaker, Seanax.com
... like the gangster figures of the 1930s, he sees only himself and the world around him and treats everything/everyone else as a stepping stone or an obstacle.
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid
Even more so than its plot, the film is notable for its very stark, sharp black-and-white look; each shot almost feels like a paper cut.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Samuel Fuller's revenge crime thriller is shot in the same brisk and violent manner he shoots his war films.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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Featured Audience Ratings

Stella D

it started out kinda cheesy but i ended up liking this revenge thriller a good deal. cliff robertson plays an ex con who works his way into the underworld to get to the men who killed his father, then finds out getting out isn't as easy as he'd planned. there are some… More
it started out kinda cheesy but i ended up liking this revenge thriller a good deal. cliff robertson plays an ex con who works his way into the underworld to get to the men who killed his father, then finds out getting out isn't as easy as he'd planned. there are some really cold-blooded scenes in this! i sometimes find fuller's style overdramatic for my taste
Walter M

[font=Century Gothic]In "Underworld, USA", as a teenager Tolly Devlin witnesses his father being brutally beaten to death by four men and is able to idenify one of the men, Vic Farrar, but will not share the information with Driscoll(Larry Gates) from the district… More
[font=Century Gothic]In "Underworld, USA", as a teenager Tolly Devlin witnesses his father being brutally beaten to death by four men and is able to idenify one of the men, Vic Farrar, but will not share the information with Driscoll(Larry Gates) from the district attorney's office. Tolly(Cliff Robertson) grows up to be a small-time thief who is in and out of prison. Eventually, he tracks down Farrar who is dying in a prison infirmary and convinces Farrar to give up the names of the other three men.[/font] [font=Century Gothic][/font] [font=Century Gothic]"Underworld USA" is a good, solid movie about revenge and justice that is occasionally weakened by uneven acting.[/font] [font=Century Gothic][/font] [font=Century Gothic][/font] [font=Century Gothic][color=navy]"The Naked Kiss" starts out with a bald woman, Kelly(Constance Towers), delivering a beating to a man to get the $75 she feels is due to her. Two years later, with a full head of hair, Kelly gets off the bus at Grantville, pretending to be a champagne saleswoman as a front for her mobile prostitution business. She strikes up an acquaintance with the town sherriff, Griff(Anthony Eisley), and they spend the night together at his place but Kelly leaves in the morning. She finds other lodgings and starts a new chapter in her life.[/color][/font] [font=Century Gothic][color=#000080][/color][/font] [font=Century Gothic][color=#000080]"The Naked Kiss" gets off to a great start but the film does not come into its own until late with a particularly disturbing scene. The movie is about the possibility of redemption and how people can change, given the chance.[/color][/font]

Cast

            Cliff Robertson as Tolly Devlin

            Dolores Dorn as Cuddles

            Beatrice Kay as Sandy

            Paul Dubov as Gela

            Robert Emhardt as Conners

            Richard Rust as Gus

            Larry Gates as Driscoll

            Gerald Milton as Gunther

            Allan Gruener as Smith

            David Kent as Tolly at 12

            Tina Rome as Woman

            Sally Mills as Connie

            Robert P. Lieb as Officer

            Neyle Morrow as Barney

            Henry Norell as Prison Doctor

            Peter Brocco as Vic Farrar

            Bernie Hamilton as Investigator

            Bob Hopkins as Drunk

            Tom London as Drunk

            Jerry Mann as Cashier

            Rickie Sorenson as Harry

            Charles Starrett as Investigator

            Audrey Swanson as Mother

            James Bacon as Newspaperman

            Donald Gamble as Boy

            Dave Fresco as Convict

            Donald Douglas as Man

            Delores Dorn
            
See full cast

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Underworld U.S.A (1961)

Critic Reviews

Featured Audience Ratings

Stella D

Walter M

Cast

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