Saddled with a colorless generic title, "Gangster Story" plays like an episode from a 1950's TV show like "Dragnet" or "Highway Patrol." Drifting bank robber, Jack Martin, casually cons local police and robs a bank in broad daylight, drops into the public library and picks up the blonde be-spectacled librarian, then accepts her job offer to work at a small ranch outside town. Martin's successful bank job is noted by the town's mob boss, who then hires him to beef up his own bank robbing operations. The body count rises, while the totally unconvincing plot unfolds, and Martin embarks on a low heat affair with the librarian.
Walter Matthau directed and stars as Martin. While his direction is lackluster, his acting is acceptably professional; however, better known now as a comedian, Matthau at times comes across as playing for a laugh rather than straight. Other than Carol Grace as the librarian, the cast is largely non-professional, and the B-minus budget kept filming locations to real banks, country clubs, and apartments. The black-and-white cinematography is flat like a vintage television show, although classic car buffs will delight in shots of Cadillac, Ford, Chevrolet, and Hudson models from the mid to late 1950's, when fins and chrome ruled. Based on a story by Richard Grey, the script for "Gangster Story" is lame and has enough bad dialog and situations for an episode of "Mystery Science Theater 3000;" in fact, the action often resembles that of a cheapie sci-fi movie from the period, only a giant mantis or tarantula is missing. Obviously, Matthau went on to better roles, and this early low-budget entry on his resume offers a glimpse of the young actor while still learning his trade. "Gangster Story" is for complete-ists among Matthau's fans, aficionados of 1950's American automobiles, and those who relish the delights of B movies.
Walter Matthau directed and stars as Martin. While his direction is lackluster, his acting is acceptably professional; however, better known now as a comedian, Matthau at times comes across as playing for a laugh rather than straight. Other than Carol Grace as the librarian, the cast is largely non-professional, and the B-minus budget kept filming locations to real banks, country clubs, and apartments. The black-and-white cinematography is flat like a vintage television show, although classic car buffs will delight in shots of Cadillac, Ford, Chevrolet, and Hudson models from the mid to late 1950's, when fins and chrome ruled. Based on a story by Richard Grey, the script for "Gangster Story" is lame and has enough bad dialog and situations for an episode of "Mystery Science Theater 3000;" in fact, the action often resembles that of a cheapie sci-fi movie from the period, only a giant mantis or tarantula is missing. Obviously, Matthau went on to better roles, and this early low-budget entry on his resume offers a glimpse of the young actor while still learning his trade. "Gangster Story" is for complete-ists among Matthau's fans, aficionados of 1950's American automobiles, and those who relish the delights of B movies.