"Bullets or Ballots" is a fast-paced, hard-hitting crime melodrama from Warner Brothers. Responding to the criticism leveled against their films regarding the glorification of hoodlums, Warners put their top tough guy, Edward G. Robinson, in the lead role as a cop out to bring down the mob. Squaring off against Edward is stock bad guy Barton McLane as the rackets boss and a relatively new contract player, Humphrey Bogart, as his treacherous second in command. Providing some glamor is the wonderful Joan Blondell as a nightclub owner and close friend of Robinson.
Robinson is Johnny Blake, a veteran cop who is seemingly fired from the police force and recruited by McLane's Al Kruger to help him run the rackets. Of course Blake is going under cover to smash the mob; a plot point the audience and Bogart's Nick Fenner will guess pretty quickly. In standard Warners fashion the plot moves quickly and the pace never lags.
Robinson is more cerebral and less flamboyant than in most of his crime pictures but he is terrific in the role. He carefully plots his moves and outwits Fenner at nearly every opportunity while completely fooling Kruger. Even so his quick fists are demonstrated on several occasions. Fresh off his success in "The Petrified Forest" Bogart assumes the first of a seemingly endless series of evil supporting roles that would occupy the next five years of his career. Although the part is fairly one-dimensional Bogart shines and is a formidable adversary. Barton MacLane gives his standard tough guy performance but is a little more likable than usual. Joan Blondell does a great job as well; she is warm and funny while having some hard boiled moments. And she is very easy on the eyes. The rest of the Warners stock company is in fine form, headed by Frank McHugh in one of his typical comedy relief roles.
Known for their crime films, Warners serves up one of their best with "Bullets Or Ballots."
Robinson is Johnny Blake, a veteran cop who is seemingly fired from the police force and recruited by McLane's Al Kruger to help him run the rackets. Of course Blake is going under cover to smash the mob; a plot point the audience and Bogart's Nick Fenner will guess pretty quickly. In standard Warners fashion the plot moves quickly and the pace never lags.
Robinson is more cerebral and less flamboyant than in most of his crime pictures but he is terrific in the role. He carefully plots his moves and outwits Fenner at nearly every opportunity while completely fooling Kruger. Even so his quick fists are demonstrated on several occasions. Fresh off his success in "The Petrified Forest" Bogart assumes the first of a seemingly endless series of evil supporting roles that would occupy the next five years of his career. Although the part is fairly one-dimensional Bogart shines and is a formidable adversary. Barton MacLane gives his standard tough guy performance but is a little more likable than usual. Joan Blondell does a great job as well; she is warm and funny while having some hard boiled moments. And she is very easy on the eyes. The rest of the Warners stock company is in fine form, headed by Frank McHugh in one of his typical comedy relief roles.
Known for their crime films, Warners serves up one of their best with "Bullets Or Ballots."