Main Cast: Stephen McNally, Thelma Ritter, Luis Van Rooten, Jeff Corey, Tony Curtis, Sharon McManus
Release Year: 1949
Country: US
Run Time: 90 minutes
Plot
This slightly bowdlerized version of Irving Shulman's The Amboy Dukes was used by Universal-International to showcase several of its new male contractees. Set in the slums of Brooklyn, the film follows the exploits of the Amboy Dukes, a teenaged street gang. Foremost among the Dukes is Frank Cusack (Peter Fernandez), who loses all opportunity to escape his grim existence when he accidentally kills his high-school teacher. The film tries to demonstrate that the so-called "code of the streets"--never rat on a pal--is possibly more destructive than any brass knuckle or switchblade. Maxwell Shane and Dennis Cooper's screenplay resists any temptation to sentimentalize the kids or trivialize their plight; the closest the film comes to comedy relief are the shattered romantic illusions of the near-moronic Crazy Perrin. Prominent among the supporting players are Thelma Ritter as Frank Cusack's anguished mother, Stephen McNally as a community center counselor, and Anthony (Tony) Curtis as the leather-jacketed gang leader. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Sue England - Betty; Richard Jaeckel - Bull; Barbara Whiting - Annie Kane; Richard Benedict - Gaggsy Steens; Anabel Shaw - Jean Albert; Robert Osterloh - Mr. Bannon; Sara Berner - Selma; Al Eben - Detective Kleiner; Peter Fernandez - Frank Cusack; Joshua Shelley - Crazy Perrin; Mickey Knox - Larry; Joe Turkel - Shimmy; Frank Cady - Shirley's partner; Bert Conway - Mr. Hayes; Sandra Gould - Shirley; Judy Nugent - Little Girl; Drew Pearson - Himself; John M. Pickard - Detective; Ronnie Ralph - Jerry
Credit
Bernard Herzbrun - Art Director, Emrich H. Nicholson - Art Director, Ben Colman - Associate Producer, Maxwell Shane - Director, Ted Kent - Editor, Walter Scharf - Composer (Music Score), Bud Westmore - Makeup, Maury Gertsman - Cinematographer, Maxwell Shane - Producer, John P. Austin - Set Designer, Russell A. Gausman - Set Designer, David S. Horsley - Special Effects, Leslie I. Carey - Sound/Sound Designer, Joe Lapis - Sound/Sound Designer, Maxwell Shane - Screenwriter, Dennis Cooper - Screenwriter, Irving Shulman - Screenwriter, Irving Shulman - Book Author
