On a hot summer day in New York, 21-year-old James Dean (as Joe Adams) shoots the breeze with gangster pal Don Hanmer (as Mickey). Mr. Dean, already a thieving ex-con, tells Mr. Hanmer he wants to go straight. After admiring successful businessmen carrying briefcases, Dean vows to get a briefcase of his own. But, before changing his life of crime, Dean decides to pull one more job. In a dark alley, he snatches pretty ballerina Susan Douglas (as Noli)'s purse. A policeman (Pete Gumeny) unexpectedly interrupts the crime, which saves Ms. Douglas, and her rent money, from Dean. Sensing God is at work, Douglas covers for the philistine Dean. Then, succumbing to her Christian spirit, Dean goes to Douglas' apartment; and, the two being dating.
"Buy the book that Joe buys," the teleplay advises, "the book that can change you life." After discovering what can fill his "empty briefcase", Bible-believing Dean is, more than ever, determined to go straight. Unfortunately, mafia-type leader Robert Middleton (as Sloane) needs Dean for his next big heist. And, Mr. Middleton does NOT take "no" for an answer
This short, flawed drama is interesting to watch. Forgive a personal aside (you won't find many in my little reviews): someone who knew him in the early 1950s once told me I reminded him of James Dean. It was a nice compliment, but not one I could fathom. However, there is something about Dean's appearance, movement, and body type in this TV appearance which (finally, for me) made sense of the comparison.
Dean and the others perform their parts as well as can be expected, in a woefully inferior production. The story is very silly, highlighted by Douglas' inadvisable actions during her abduction. Also, watch out for Dean to collide with a wobbly wall sink.
The influence of Marlon Brando and Montgomery Clift shows up in Dean's performance. Look for the Brando influence when Dean acts with "Mickey" Hanmer, who had, by then, married and divorced Brando's sister Jocelyn.
Inconsequential and insightful.
**** Something for an Empty Briefcase (7/17/53) Don Medford ~ James Dean, Susan Douglas, Don Hanmer, Robert Middleton