This is a hard-boiled crime drama based on the real life "Tri-State Gang". No masks for this gang who terrorized citizens up and down Highway 301 as they rob banks at gun point, with their ruthless leader George Legenza (played by Steve Cochran), who is unafraid to kill any threat and prevent any witness.
The film starts with anti-crime messages from three acting governors of Maryland, Virginia and North Carolina, the states where many of the tri-state gang's crimes occurred. Not a lot of planning is involved in the crimes as they seem to tough-guy their way through most encounters and then meet up with their Mols afterwards. Unfortunately, not all of the girls are entirely in on their "line of work", which begins the beginning of the end of the gang.
Lots of shooting and a bit of tough talk...the film is light on both dialogue and plot, which has me struggling to recommend this film to crime aficionados, besides the hardcore and true history buffs. I think there are a lot better crime films out there, even ones based on true stories...like the Australian crime family that inspired two movies and a tv series Animal Kingdom (The Pettingill family...look them up!).
The film starts with anti-crime messages from three acting governors of Maryland, Virginia and North Carolina, the states where many of the tri-state gang's crimes occurred. Not a lot of planning is involved in the crimes as they seem to tough-guy their way through most encounters and then meet up with their Mols afterwards. Unfortunately, not all of the girls are entirely in on their "line of work", which begins the beginning of the end of the gang.
Lots of shooting and a bit of tough talk...the film is light on both dialogue and plot, which has me struggling to recommend this film to crime aficionados, besides the hardcore and true history buffs. I think there are a lot better crime films out there, even ones based on true stories...like the Australian crime family that inspired two movies and a tv series Animal Kingdom (The Pettingill family...look them up!).