Jackson advocate. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1939-current, 1950-06-24
THEATRICAL
DATA
By DAVID ]. BETHEA
THE LAWLESS'
BLASTS AMERICAS
PESTIEST PROBLEM

PESTIEST PROBLEM
NEW YORK CITY-Not to be
outdone in the film industries
campaign to fight discrimination
in all parts of the nation, Para
mount Pictures rounded up produc-
ers William H. Pine and William
&. Thomas, and the result was a
film called "The Lawless" which
preemed in at the Astor Theatre,
Thursday, June %. 1t is one of
the boldest and open attack on
bigotry since MGM's lynch mob
Unfolding as it were, timely
theme that could take place in
any city in this country, "The Law
less" attacks subtle prejudices
without the slightest regard for
any timid feeling. 1t probes deep
ly into the impulses of bias which
has been planted so deeply in the
concept of white supremacy, striv-
ing unrelentingly to conquer fear
that is nourished so stubbornly by
superior completes.
The story of "The Lawless" con
Germs big-city reporter who is
editor of paper in a small fruit
growing section in Northern Cali
fornia who hopes to take life Sc
rene writing Mother Day editor
ials. The town is supposed to be
quiet and peaceful, but it turns
out to be everything else but
peaceful.
Like most cities and towns in
America, the non-whites are ghet-
toed in section on the other side
of the tracks, and this time, it is
the Mexicans who are segregated
in section below the track called
Sleepy Hollow. A deep seated
friction exists between the whites
and MeXicans, and it reaches a
climax when a group of wealthy
white youths arrive at a Saturday
night dance in Sleepy Hollow. The
wealthy youths are seeking revenge
from two Mexican youths who ac-
cidentally bumped into the fender
of their car early in the afternoon.
The big-city reporter is there to
cover the dance, and meets the
beautiful daughter of the publisher
of the Mexican Weekly paper. She
is aware of the current friction
but she wants the editor to let
the folks above the track know
that her people are good law
abiding citizens.
The white and Mexican youths
clash, provoking a free-for-all
fight with everyone taking part.
In the melee, a Mexican youth ac-
cidentally strikes an officer and
escapes, finding temporary refuge
in the barn of white farmer
When his daughter discovers him
there, she turns away Historically,
striking her head against a post,
falling out cold.
Word spreads around that the
escaped Mexican has attacked the
farmers daughter, and a manhunt
is organized to capture him dead
or alive. The big-city reporter
joins in the manhunt and succeeds
in capturing the youth. When he
published the story of the farmers
daughter that she had been at
tackled in headline of his paper,
the towns revenge seethed against
him. They turned on him, and
completely destroyed his publish
ing plant.
Mcdonald Carey as the big-city
reporter, gives a vivid portrayal
of man caught in the midst of
deep seated hate and bigotry. Gail
Russell as the Mexican girl re-
porter, beautiful and winsome,
shows intense sincerity in trying
hard to make others believe her
people are good, law abiding citi-
zens. Lalo Rios, the young Mexi-
can youth, gives a striking char
acteristic of the repres s ion
brought on by jim Grow. John
Hoyt, wealthy father of one of the
two youths responsible for the race
riot, acts the role with answering
calm.
"The Lawless" may not be the
best film to come out of Hollywood
in 1850, but there win hardly come
one that wills strike with anymore
vigor at Americas pestiest prob
lem, bigotry.