''The Music Box Kid'' is a low budget 1960 gangster film directed by

Edward L. Cahn Edward L. Cahn (February 12, 1899 – August 25, 1963) was an American film director. Early life and education Cahn was born in Brooklyn, New York. He went to work at Universal Pictures in 1917 while still a student at UCLA. Career ...

, starring Ron Foster and

Luana Patten Luana Patten (July 6, 1938 – May 1, 1996) was an American actress who appeared in films produced by Walt Disney Pictures, such as ''Song of the South'' (1946), ''Fun and Fancy Free'' (1947), and ''Melody Time'' (1948). Later in life, she pla ...

Plot

The "music box" is a submachine gun owned by ruthless gangster Larry Shaw (Ronald Foster) in 1920s New York. Larry is working his way up a bootlegging syndicate but reckons without his decent wife Margaret (Luana Patten), who one day has enough of her husband's activities.

Cast

*Larry Shaw - Ron Foster *Margaret Shaw -

*Chesty Miller - Grant Richards *Tony Maldano - Johnny Seven *Pat Lamont - Carl Milletaire *Father Gorman -

Dayton Lummis Dayton Lummis (August 8, 1903 – March 23, 1988) was an American film, television and theatre actor. He was perhaps best known for playing the role of General Douglas MacArthur in the 1955 film ''The Court-Martial of Billy Mitchell''. Lummis d ...

*Biggie Gaines -

Bernard Fein Bernard Fein (November 13, 1926 – September 10, 1980) was an American actor, television producer, screenwriter and film director. He is best known for co-creating and associate producing the 1960s television sitcom ''Hogan's Heroes''; a show w ...

*Bo -

Baynes Barron Bernard Miller (May 29, 1917 – July 21, 1982) was an American film and television actor. Born in New York. Barron began his career in 1946, first appearing in the film '' The Secret of the Whistler''. He then made his television debut in 1951 ...

(Uncredited) *George Gordon - Carlton Young (Uncredited)

Critical reception

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'' wrote, "this is a formula gangster flick, with clichéd situations and stereotyped characters. The direction is efficient, however, giving some polish to an otherwise standard piece. The cast gives the film a little soul as well with some spirited performances."

Synopsis

Set in 1920s New York, this story begins with Larry Shaw (Ron Foster) and Margaret Shaw (Luana Patten) having a housewarming party, where they meet Father Gorman (Dayton Lummis) as Larry is leaving to take care of business for Chesty Miller (Grant Richards). Larry decides after finishing the job for Chesty that he has bigger plans in his future and demands a raise. Chesty decides to put Larry on the D and E (Discipline and Execute) squad to scare his rival Biggie Gaines (Bernard Fein), Larry finds this not suited to his goals and knocks out Bo (Bayens Barron), Chesty's enforcer and head of the D and E, Chesty after this makes Larry head of the D and E squad and gives him a machine gun also known as a music box. Larry begins his reign by terrorizing the streets of New York; this makes Chesty unhappy as his activities are being noticed by the media and the public is beginning to have a negative view of his gang until his rival "The Bug" (uncredited) calls and tells Chesty he will stay out of his way because he doesn't like the sound of that music box, earning Larry the nickname The Music Box Kid.The Music Box Kid Film
/ref> After a short narration on the Prohibition, Larry is seen by a witness and is called in to see the District Attorney. Chesty provides Larry with a lawyer and this allows Larry to get away with no proof of his involvement as the witness says he can't be sure. Father Gorman, after hearing about the gang activity in the newspapers, goes to check on Margaret Shaw concerned with her well-being, as he suspects her husband Larry of being a gangster. Margaret learns that her husband is a gangster and that is why they can afford their lifestyle; she becomes terrified for her life. Later that night Larry calls a meeting of his most trusted accomplices and forms the Larry Shaw Enterprises gang, all while Margaret is listening in the kitchen. Larry's first business deal is with his former boss Chesty; he pitches a contract deal which would leave Chesty's gang blameless. Larry's gang becomes successful in dealing contracts to each of the gangs and as Larry becomes delirious with the power he kidnaps Biggie Gaines' right-hand man Pat Lamont (Carl Milletaire) and asks for a ransom. Tension increases as Larry and his gang continue to hit the other gangs where it hurts and at the same time tension between Larry and Margaret increase as Father Gorman tries to convince Margaret to tell everything she knows about Larry and his gang to George Gordon (Carlton Young), the new chief hired to catch Larry and the other gangsters. Margaret refuses then later overhears Larry's plan to kill George Gordon and offer it as a contract to all the gang leaders for $1 million. Margaret, thinking of her unborn child, calls Father Gorman after Larry and his gang leave and relays the plan to Father Gorman. The next scene Larry is killed by a policeman in the scuffle and the film ends showing the fate of Margaret and Larry's son, who chose to become a Priest.

References

External links