Under the Gun

At first this felt like a empty ambiance crime film, but it gradually got more interesting with the way Richard Conte started manipulating Sam Jaffe in prison. The plan became the center of attention and it got captivating with the manipulation. That's where the characters grew, and Under the Gun (1951) became as intriguing as it was.

Richard Conte is a big city gangster who ends up in a southern prison work farm. He tries to scheme and manipulate his way out, driven by thoughts of revenge. It's a solid piece of work, flows nicely, has some clever ideas and good photography. Conte is in fine form, supported by an array of wonderful character actors. Audrey Totter gets second billing, but for most of the running time she's out of the picture. Can't think of much else to say at the moment... just a really engaging flick.