Review for New York Confidential

'New York Confidential' is definitely a 'what is says on the tin' movie. What you expect is what you get - and in this case, presuming you like hard boiled, fast talking Film Noir, then you won't be disappointed. Based on fact, it was publicised as something of an underworld expose at time of release, though is perfectly enjoyable even as fiction. The truth, as they say, probably lies somewhere in-between. It's a no holds barred, grittily brutal movie where the sheer inhumanity of 'business' must have made an impact at the time. After all, it would be another twenty years until 'The Godfather', and nearly fifty until 'The Sopranos'.


Though the Mob is referred to here as the Syndicate (a more corporate sounding name) there is no hiding the true focus. Charlie Lupo (Broderick Crawford) seems a nice enough guy, heading up the Chicago operation, until we see him hire Nick Magellan (Richard Conte) to 'take out' (not for a pizza stupid) one of his men. He does such a neat job that the boss decides to make him his right hand man - after all, he knew and liked the kids father, and it's all about family, right?


Knowing she's too hot to handle, Nick stays clear of the advances of his older boss's dame, Iris (Marilyn Maxwell) as well as his unhappy daughter, Kathy (Anne Bancroft). She's spoiled rotten by her doting dad but doesn't want the spoils of his dirty money. She also hates the way he controls people - like Nick.


Nick cools off one of Charlie's loose cannons when things go awry with a sting on a shipping company but then things soon bump off the rails. Before he can do anything to help, corrupt congressmen are soon abandoning ship and turning against Lupo. To make matters worse, a bungling hit man ends up bringing the police trail directly to Lupo's door - and his friends and colleagues in the mob don't like it. After all, what would happen if Lupo turned stool and started singing like a canary?


Well, rules are rules and even though Nic is in love with Lupo's daughter, and wildly attracted to his dame, and incredibly devoted to the old bird himself, he is elected by the mob to take care of business. Only, once that happens, what will happen to Nick? You'll need to watch this pot-boiler yourself to find out.


Performances are really top notch throughout in this superbly cast piece of Hollywood hokum.

There's room for humour too with Lupo constantly battling against his Doctor's orders and the on-going temptation of food.


Conte is really excellent as Nick - a real gentlemen, sharply dressed and as cool as a cucumber who can kill a man without even raising an eyebrow, let alone breaking sweat.


It's occasionally a little stagey (filmed on a shoestring budget in Universal lots) and there is little attempt at multi-camera positions (too expensive to run more film through the gates), but it works out better than the B-picture it was probably intended to be.


The transfer, though viewed by this reviewer on a DVD-R, looked very acceptable and audio was consistently fine throughout.

The movie (surprisingly) gets a feature length commentary with film noir genre author and expert Alan Rode, alongside writer Kim Morgan - who is in peals of laughter when it comes to the 'sausage eating scene'. You have to be there. Also included are some production stills and lobby cards.

If you like a good gangster movie from this period then you won't be disappointed.