It's nice to see Dan Duryea get the chance to play a leading role, since he was usually relegated to slimy villain roles. But other than that, there's not a whole lot to recommend this pseudo-noir from 1950.
If the film had gone full-on noir it would have been more entertaining, but it's a bit too soft where it should be tough and gritty. And I know it wasn't uncommon at the time, but it's so hard now to not bristle at the sight of a white actress playing a black character. They didn't even make an attempt to make her look black, and I'm not sure whether that's a good or bad thing.
I was really in the mood for a good, juicy noir, and over the course of a few days I watched several movies thinking I would get one, only to be disappointed. And "The Underworld Story" was one of them.
Grade: B-
If the film had gone full-on noir it would have been more entertaining, but it's a bit too soft where it should be tough and gritty. And I know it wasn't uncommon at the time, but it's so hard now to not bristle at the sight of a white actress playing a black character. They didn't even make an attempt to make her look black, and I'm not sure whether that's a good or bad thing.
I was really in the mood for a good, juicy noir, and over the course of a few days I watched several movies thinking I would get one, only to be disappointed. And "The Underworld Story" was one of them.
Grade: B-