At 80 minutes, this B picture from the mid-1950's was released about 2 years before RKO was sold to Lucy and Desi. This little seen picture is actually better than it has any right to be. That's because of a really good cast in addition to Edward G Robinson. Peter Graves is a co-star of this one though the credits do not show it. There is Milburn Stone(Doc -Gunsmoke), Russell Johnson(Professor Gilligan's Island), and some others I recognized.
The story is different, with Robinson in his usual mob persona only this time he starts the movie in death row in line for the electric chair. Peter Graves is there with him. There's more, but what is different is that there's $200,000 dollars that has been stolen. The mob wants to break out these guys so they can get the money which can't be gotten without springing these people. Robinson's Girlfriend is actually the brains behind the breakout (not the usual plot here).
When the breakout is successful and they get away pretty well (Graves, and Robinson) though letting everyone on death row out keeps the police busy. Robinson's girlfriend has a safe house set up for them. Trouble is Graves whose the key to the money gets wounded by a gun shot during the escape. This wound will eventually lead the cops to the safe house.
While the print on you tube of this is pretty rough, and the director is from Argentina which means RKO hired them for peanuts, the film actually turns out better than I expected. It is one of those rarely run films that's worth catching. The ending is not one of heros and Robinson is totally ruthless except with his girlfriend. The ending is not pretty but then the title indicates that. Being a short 80 minutes benefits the film as it gets a lot done in a hurry and there is little time for the viewer to be bored.
The story is different, with Robinson in his usual mob persona only this time he starts the movie in death row in line for the electric chair. Peter Graves is there with him. There's more, but what is different is that there's $200,000 dollars that has been stolen. The mob wants to break out these guys so they can get the money which can't be gotten without springing these people. Robinson's Girlfriend is actually the brains behind the breakout (not the usual plot here).
When the breakout is successful and they get away pretty well (Graves, and Robinson) though letting everyone on death row out keeps the police busy. Robinson's girlfriend has a safe house set up for them. Trouble is Graves whose the key to the money gets wounded by a gun shot during the escape. This wound will eventually lead the cops to the safe house.
While the print on you tube of this is pretty rough, and the director is from Argentina which means RKO hired them for peanuts, the film actually turns out better than I expected. It is one of those rarely run films that's worth catching. The ending is not one of heros and Robinson is totally ruthless except with his girlfriend. The ending is not pretty but then the title indicates that. Being a short 80 minutes benefits the film as it gets a lot done in a hurry and there is little time for the viewer to be bored.