Review of Machine Gun Kelly

Introduction

This is another in the ever-expanding `Arkoff Film Library` collection - a mixed bag of schlock-horror drive-in movies, beat movies, rock n` roll movies and hard-boiled pulp detective movies. I guess this Roger Corman Directed movie would fit into the latter category, but is somewhat of an anomaly in the collection in that it`s attraction doesn`t lie in its low budget effects, its hysterical acting or its unimaginable plots. It`s actually a very fine little movie, though I daresay was seen as pretty risqué and violent in its day.

It`s a film biog of real life hoodlum `Machine Gun Kelly` who, according to the FBI, was the desperado who gave the federal agents their colourful nickname, `G-Men`.

Whilst one of the principal operatives of what has become known as the Mid-West Crime Wave, along with Dillinger and others "Machine Gun" Kelly had the shortest career and was the first to be put away. This movie captures that history from start point to arrest.

This was really Charles Bronson`s first big movie, and arguably (prolific Producer/Director) Roger Corman`s first biggie too - and both do a good enough job here to really catapult their varying careers. A young Bronson gets the balance between vicious thug and vulnerable loser just about right in this psychological profile of Kelly. Corman does better than his usual `shoot from the hip for two days` approach to filmmaking and certainly gets a half-decent result.

There are some colourful bit actors in support roles too - like Connie Gilchrest as Flo`s mother and brothel Madame. It`s a hard-boiled movie from the outset and not for the squeamish, though today`s audiences will find it more palatable than the shocked audiences of the day (1958).

Niceties include a punchy period Jazz score to the opening bank robbery scene and it works a treat, getting the movie off to a flying start, But it proves to a pace difficult to hold and the movie seems to steadily grind to a close with it`s inevitable, but disappointing ending.
There is plenty of period detail too for those with a penchant for such things, including Kelly filling up with 8 gallons of gas for a mere $1.60.

Video

It`s a 4: 3 transfer, but is in fantastic shape. I don`t know whether this was by design or coincidence, but it`s a clean, crisp transfer on offer here.

Audio

There are some nice musical moments on this, but generally the sound is what you`d expect from a low-budget movie of this vintage. Ok on the close shots - variable on the wides.

Features

In common with other movies in the collection, there is a 50-minute audio only interview with Producer Samuel Z. Arkoff. There are also a number of drive-in style trailers for other drive-in style movies in the collection. Strangely the only subtitles on offer are Dutch.

Conclusion

I`ve been a fan of Roger Corman`s oeuvre for years. `Little Shop of Horrors` and `The Terror` show what can be done with 48 hours, no budget and a bit of film, and his more recent `Rock n` Roll High School` (1979) should be considered an all-time classic as it`s the only movie to feature `The Ramones`. There are probably another 300 movies touched by the hand of Corman and this is one of them. It`s not his best - but it`s a long way from his worst. It`s a surprisingly powerful pulp biography and a young Bronson is well cast in the title role. It`s surprisingly gritty, with some implied violence that is really quite disturbing, and it`s a brave attempt to get under the skin of the curiously sociopathic Kelly. It`s not quite the drive-in schlock that we`ve come to expect from the Arkoff library - so no cheap laughs at its expense. Worth a look.