Gangsters came back into fashion in the late 50s with the success of The Untouchables and films like Al Capone. The latter was made by Allied Artists who went on to make this and The George Raft Story and others.
It's not a good movie. Chief debit is David Janssen, whose serious slightly constipated look suited The Fugitive well enough (and casting directors couldn't get enough of casting him as journos in late 60s epics). Janssen is so dull - never believable as a gambler despite the diaoogue, and not lively.
It's especially frustrating because Mickey Rooney is right there, playing his boyhood friend, and he would've been so much better - energetic, a believable gambler.
Joseph Newman's direction is polite rather than lively. Dan O'Herlihy is good value as a corrupt cop as is William Demarest as a William Demarest type and Jack Carson as a corrupt politico (Actually all three of them would've been better than Janssen). Diana Dors wades in her awkward-but-personality-strong way in a minor role - I wish she'd played the female lead instead of the girl who did, Dianne Foster, who isn't very good.
I wonder if there's a film in Rothstein? Is he better as a support character?
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