Evening star., 1948-03-04

Street" And, like the latter, the>
new picture reveals that some of
the facts of life right here are more
dramatic than most Of the fictions
imagined elsewhere.
Eagle-Lion films. which produced
the melodrama, has made it an
honest job in tribute to the honest
men who are the screenplays heroes.
It was especially smart in giving ct
Men" an extra dimension Of realism
by avoiding a name cast. Outside
of Dennis O'Keefe, whose role fits
him perfectly, the producer de-
pended upon actors whose specially
is acting. Under the direction OF
Anthony Mann, and the technical
advice of Elmer L. Trey, former T
Mems boss, they turn in COM
pletely satisfying job.
X " \
"T-Men" is a literal account OF
how Treasury agents work, how they
master the master-minds of crime, |
the hazards they face, the courage
they show, and the humor they
bring to desperately dangerous jobs.
It is a composite story that the
film tells, a tightly made narrative
of running band of counterfelters
to earth. 1t is not parallel to the
Capone case, but elements OF that
run down find their echo in John
C. Higgins screenrlay. AS in that
labyrinthine chase, this one calls
for the T-men to become part OF
the gang, to become the professional
intimates of their quarry.
If there is more dramatic way
to trap criminal rings, Hollywood
has not photographed it before-un-
til it came up the script of "T-Men.
Treasury Agent O'Keefe and his
partner in this lethal enterprise,
Alfred Ryder, are not forced into
their assignment. Their superiors
do not send agents to their deaths.
They are asked if they care to VOL
unteer. If they do not, they are
assigned elsewhere without preJu-
dice.
OKeefe and Ryder volunteer.
Their specific task is to capture a.
counterfeiting band with headquar-
ters in Los Angeles. There are nol
cracks in the front Of the gang on
its hCme grounds, however. The
agents, therefore begin long flank
ing movement in Detroit, where a
whiskey ring is using counterfeit
revenue stamps.
This involves getting into the con-
fidence of the gang leaders, ana
"T-Men" is highly dramatic in its
revelations of this process. 1t dis
closes that there is no such thing
as confidence among criminals.
Everyone suspects everyone else,
keeping an excited finger on the
trigger of his gun.
OKeefe and his partner make the
admission grade. Once in on the
outer fringe of the counterfeit oper-
alton, they begin the march to its
heart-in Los Angeles.
Director Quiln's picture is at its
best in its approach to the higher
ups in the counterfeit ring. These
are remote characters, guarded by
armies of killers. The slightest slip
in this trigger-mad world OF sus-
picion must be instantly fatal and
the picture makes a fine suspense
full thing of the T-men's dangerous
fencing with the gang. There Is
never an instant when the two
agents are not exposed to sudden
death and before it ends, one OF
them dies at the hands Of the gang.
Dramatic point is made of the fact
that the other agent is partly, in
escapably, to the killing.
X X
It would rob "T-Men" of some OF
its excitement to go too much into
the intricacies of the roundup oper-
alton.
On the whole, it is far better than
the imaginary thing out of which
standard melodrama is made. And,
In It's documented disclosures III
criminal types. "T-Men" is :@perb.
Most dramatic of the gangsters
Is an older master-mind who has
begun to crack under the strain.
He is known as "the Schemer," a
tribute to his past. for now he has
run out of schemes. He is the weak
point In the gangs armor, the
strong one of the agents closing
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