This is an above average rather elaborate all black cast organized drama that shows Ralph Cooper at his best and has some nifty Cotton Club like sequences too. He's Bob "Killer" Meade, exonerated for murder of a crime ring leader whose turf he took over, in love with talented singer Gladys Turner, and in a rivalry with another gang's turf leader Lawrence Criner. Cooper is determined to have Turner for himself, and if that means destroying his rival for her heart, he'll be as ruthless as Little Caesar to get her.
I was shocked by camera work that wasn't exactly flattering to Turner, puffing out her cheek bones noticeably in closeups, while it other angles, she's quite beautiful. She's sort of a Hedy Lamarr/Joan Bennett look, but more innocent looking except when the camera moves too far in. Other than that, this is a pretty snazzy crime drama with Cooper charming but ruthless. Outside of the flaws mentioned above, this is really good on a technical angle, with the editing and use of montages really good. One of the best of the black produced race films, filled with ingenuity, action and great outdoor chase sequences.
I was shocked by camera work that wasn't exactly flattering to Turner, puffing out her cheek bones noticeably in closeups, while it other angles, she's quite beautiful. She's sort of a Hedy Lamarr/Joan Bennett look, but more innocent looking except when the camera moves too far in. Other than that, this is a pretty snazzy crime drama with Cooper charming but ruthless. Outside of the flaws mentioned above, this is really good on a technical angle, with the editing and use of montages really good. One of the best of the black produced race films, filled with ingenuity, action and great outdoor chase sequences.