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Actors: George Bancroft, Clive Brook
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| Review Summary and Plot Commentary about Underworld (1927) |
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Often called the first gangster movie, this 1927 production directed by Josef Von Sternberg from a story by Ben Hecht would probably strike viewers today as very slow-paced and stylized for an action picture. In typical fashion, Von Sternberg concentrates mainly on the erotic rivalry between two crooks with colorful monikers, "Bull Weed" (George Bancroft) and "Rolls Royce" (Clive Brook)--an alcoholic lawyer Bull has dragged out of the gutter--for the favors of the gun moll "Feathers" McCoy (Evelyn Brent). However, the story culminates in a shoot out with Bull cornered by the cops in his hideout that obviously served as a model for the more famous finale of Scarface (1932). Underworld's success made Von Sternberg one of the most prominent directors in Hollywood and led to his shooting The Blue Angel in Germany a few years later. But if he had directed only this film and the two pictures which followed it--The Last Command and The Docks of New York, both 1928--he would still rank as one of the major figures in American movie history.
--Dave C, Resident Scholar
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| Analysis of Underworld (1927) |
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
How difficult to spot villain?
- Very obvious
Time/Era of Movie:
- 1900-1920's
Murder Mystery?
Yes
What % of story relates directly
to the mystery, not the subplot?
- 50%
Murders of set profession?
- criminals
Main Character
Identity:
- Male
Profession/status:
- criminal
Age:
- 20's-30's
Events of movie makes character more...
- sad
Ethnicity/Nationality
- White (American)
How sensitive is this character?
- hard edged
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Average intelligence
Physique
- average physique
Secondary Main Character
Identity:
- Male
Ethnicity/Nationality
- White (American)
Main Adversary
Identity:
- Male
Age:
- 40's-50's
Profession/status:
- criminal
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- 60%
Ethnicity/Nationality
- White (American)
Intelligence
- Average intelligence
Physique
- average physique
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
How sensitive is this character?
- mean, arrogant
Setting
United States
Yes
The US:
- Northeast
Misc setting
- prison
Style
Accounts of torture and death?
- moderately messy visuals of dead
Movie makes you feel...
- excited
How many deaths in film?
- 1
How much use of techno gadgets?
- 1 (None)
Kind of violence:
- guns
Check here if B&W
Yes
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Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s). | |
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