''Rumble on the Docks'' is a 1956 American

crime In ordinary language, a crime is an unlawful act punishable by a State (polity), state or other authority. The term ''crime'' does not, in modern criminal law, have any simple and universally accepted definition,Farmer, Lindsay: "Crime, definit ...

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 ' ...

directed by Fred F. Sears and starring

James Darren James William Ercolani (born June 8, 1936) known by his stage name James Darren, is an American television and film actor, television director, and singer. During the late 1950s and early 1960s, he had notable starring and supporting roles in fi ...

Plot

Jimmy Smigelski, living near the docks of

Brooklyn Brooklyn () is a borough of New York City, coextensive with Kings County, in the U.S. state of New York. Kings County is the most populous county in the State of New York, and the second-most densely populated county in the United States, be ...

, is quick to help when a neighborhood girl, Della, and her little brother are menaced by some thugs. Joe Brindo, a racketeer Jimmy's honest father Pete blames for an incident that crippled him, is impressed by Jimmy and takes him under his wing. Jimmy is caught in a rivalry between two local gangs. He also is asked to testify at a trial, angering his father when the outcome benefits the gangster. Jimmy eventually changes his ways and ends up working in his father's print shop.

Cast

as Jimmy Smigelski * Laurie Carroll as Della *

Michael Granger Michael Granger (May 14, 1923 – October 22, 1981) was an American actor. Born Milton Grossman in Kansas City, MO, Granger, he appeared in ''The Big Heat'' and in B movies such as '' Creature With The Atom Brain'', as well as on TV shows includ ...

as Joe Brindo * Jerry Janger as Rocky *

Robert Blake Robert Blake may refer to: Sportspeople * Bob Blake (American football) (1885–1962), American football player * Robbie Blake (born 1976), English footballer * Bob Blake (ice hockey) (1914–2008), American ice hockey player * Rob Blake (born 19 ...

as Chuck *

Edgar Barrier Edgar Barrier (March 4, 1907 – June 20, 1964) was an American actor who appeared on radio, stage, and screen. In the 1930s he was a member of Orson Welles' Mercury Theatre and was one of several actors who played Simon Templar on ''The Saint'' ...

as Pete Smigelski *

Celia Lovsky Celia Lovsky (born Cäcilia Josefina Lvovsky, February 21, 1897 – October 12, 1979) was an Austrian-American actress. She was born in Vienna,Timothy Carey Timothy Agoglia Carey (March 11, 1929 – May 11, 1994) was an American film and television character actor. Carey was best known for portraying manic or violent characters who are driven to extremes. Career He made his screen debut with a ...

as Frank Mangus * Dan Terranova as 'Stomper' Tony Lightning * Barry Froner as Poochie *

Don Devlin Don, don or DON and variants may refer to: Places *County Donegal, Ireland, Chapman code DON * Don (river), a river in European Russia * Don River (disambiguation), several other rivers with the name * Don, Benin, a town in Benin * Don, Dang, a ...

as Wimpy * Stephen H. Sears as Cliffie * Joseph Vitale as Ferd Marchesi * David Orrick McDearmon as Lawyer Gotham (as David Orrick) *

Larry J. Blake Larry J. Blake (April 24, 1914 – May 25, 1982) was an American actor. Career A native of Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, New York, he started his career in vaudeville as an impersonator, working his way to a headliner. After appearing at the Roxy Theatr ...

as Officer Fitz * Robert C. Ross as Gil Danco * Steve Warren as Sully * Don Garrett as Bo-Bo * Joel Ashley as Dist. Atty. Fuller * Salvatore Anthony as Kid with Wallet *

Freddie Bell Ferdinando Dominick Bello, known as Freddie Bell, (September 29, 1931 – February 10, 2008), was an American musician, whose group, Freddie Bell and the Bellboys, were influential in the development of rock and roll in the 1950s. He was a promin ...

as Himself, Freddie Bell (as Freddie Bell and His Bellboys) * The Bellboys as Themselves, The Bellboys (as Freddie Bell and His Bellboys)

Production

The film was based on the eponymous 1953 novel by "Frank Paley", a social worker writing under a pseudonym. ''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...

'' thought "Mr Paley's narrative powers are not up to his descriptive ones." Sam Katzman bought the film rights in 1955. The lead role was given to James Darren, who had recently been signed to a long-term contract by Columbia. It was his first movie. Katzman also introduced newcomers Laurie Carroll and Sal Anthony. Carroll was discovered by Katzman when she appeared on ''The Johnny Carson Show''. Filming started 18 June 1956.

Release

James Darren later said of the movie, "Fred Sears was a wonderful director. That really was my first break because I started getting 400-500 letters a month from that film. You're not talking about a major film here. So, that kind of put me on a different level at the studio and they took notice."

References

External links

* *
Review of film
at Variety {{Sam Katzman 1956 films 1956 crime films American crime films Columbia Pictures films Films directed by Fred F. Sears 1950s English-language films 1950s American films American black-and-white films