''Four Boys and a Gun'' is a 1957 American

film noir Film noir (; ) is a cinematic term used primarily to describe stylish Hollywood crime dramas, particularly those that emphasize cynical attitudes and motivations. The 1940s and 1950s are generally regarded as the "classic period" of American ' ...

crime film Crime films, in the broadest sense, is a film genre inspired by and analogous to the crime fiction literary genre. Films of this genre generally involve various aspects of crime and its detection. Stylistically, the genre may overlap and combine ...

directed by

William Berke William A. Berke (born October 3, 1903 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin – died February 15, 1958 in Los Angeles, California) was an American film director, producer, actor and screenwriter. He wrote, directed, and/or produced some 200 films over a ...

and written by Leo Townsend and

Philip Yordan Philip Yordan (April 1, 1914 – March 24, 2003) was an American screenwriter of the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s who produced several films. He acted as a front for blacklisted writers although his use of surrogate screenwriters predates the McCarth ...

. The film stars

Frank Sutton Frank Spencer Sutton (October 23, 1923 – June 28, 1974) was an American actor best remembered for his role as Gunnery Sergeant Vince Carter on the CBS television series ''Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.''. Early life Born in Clarksville, Tennessee, ...

, Tarry Green,

James Franciscus James Grover Franciscus (January 31, 1934 – July 8, 1991) was an American actor, known for his roles in feature films and in six television series: ''Mr. Novak'', ''The Naked City'', '' The Investigators'', '' Longstreet'', ''Doc Elliot'', an ...

, William Hinnant,

Otto Hulett Otto Hulett (February 27, 1898 – September 1, 1983) was an American film, television and stage actor. Hulett was born in Chicago, Illinois. As an actor, he was best known for his roles in '' The Mob'' (1951), ''Saturday's Hero'' (1951), and ...

and Robert Dryden. The film was released on January 11, 1957, by

United Artists United Artists Corporation (UA), currently doing business as United Artists Digital Studios, is an American digital production company. Founded in 1919 by D. W. Griffith, Charlie Chaplin, Mary Pickford, and Douglas Fairbanks, the studi ...

Plot

Four "boys," Ollie, Eddie, Johnny and Stanley walk into an arena where amateur boxing matches are being held. They carry out a robbery of the box office, using a gun, and in the process a police officer is murdered. It is not revealed who actually did the shooting. They take the money and each goes his separate way. It doesn't take long for the police to figure out who carried out the robbery, and they all end up in the police station being questioned about the robbery. The district attorney goes to each one and the audience is given their story. Ollie is a runner for a bookie who has skimmed $300 from his boss and in trouble for not being able to pay it back—he is beaten up once, and faces more unless he can come up with the money. Johnny is married and his wife is expecting a baby. He also makes his living as an amateur fighter; however, he loses that opportunity. Stanley is a disappointment to his father and only a follower. He is short, small and always picked on. Eddie lost his job as a truck driver, when he hits his boss after finding out that boss has stolen his girlfriend, the delivery company's secretary. While at the district attorney's office, the DA reveals to them that the four face the death penalty for the murder of the police officer. He tells them that if the one who actually did the shooting steps forward, the other three could get off with a lesser charge and shorter prison sentence. Flashbacks reveal the days that lead up to the robbery and the reasons why each went through with it. Left on their own, the four argue as to who should take responsibility, but finally agree to roll dice and the "winner" would take the rap, letting the other three live. Eddie ends up the one who must claim to have pulled the trigger. But in the end, they all decide to take the rap together, even if it means they all must die in the electric chair.

Cast

as Ollie Denker *Tarry Green as Eddie Richards *

as Johnny Doyle * William Hinnant as Stanley Badek *

as District Attorney *Robert Dryden as Joe Barton * J. Pat O'Malley as Fight manager *Diana Herbert as Marie *Patricia Sloan as Nita *

Patricia Bosworth Patricia Bosworth (née Crum, April 24, 1933 – April 2, 2020) was an American journalist and biographer, memoirist, and actress. She was a faculty member of Columbia University’s school of journalism as well as Barnard College, and was a wi ...

as Elizabeth * David Burns as Television man * Anne Seymour as Mrs. Richards *Frank Gero as Slim *

Ned Glass Nusyn "Ned" Glass (April 1, 1906 – June 15, 1984) was a Polish-born American character actor who appeared in more than eighty films and on television more than one hundred times, frequently playing nervous, cowardly, or deceitful characters. ...

as Landlord *

Karl Swenson Karl Swenson (July 23, 1908 – October 8, 1978) was an American theatre, radio, film, and television actor. Early in his career, he was credited as Peter Wayne.

as Mr. Badek *Lisa Osten as Mrs. Badek *

Sid Raymond Sid Raymond (born Raymond Silverstein, January 21, 1909 – December 1, 2006) was an American comedian and character actor. Early years Born Raymond Silverstein in Manhattan, Raymond dropped out of New York University and became the recreation ...

as Cab driver

Home Media

The film was released on DVD in 2011 by

20th Century Fox Home Entertainment 20th Century Studios Home Entertainment (commonly referred to as 20th Home Video, or 20th Home Entertainment, formerly known as 20th Century-Fox Video, CBS/Fox Video, Fox Video, and 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment) is a home video label of Wa ...

References

External links

* *Stan Rubin and his Tigertown Five: clip from "Four Boys and a Gun" on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVaNJzrSxfs {{William Berke 1957 films Film noir 1950s English-language films United Artists films American crime films 1957 crime films Films directed by William A. Berke Films scored by Albert Glasser 1950s American films