''Rogue Cop'' is a 1954 American

film noir Film noir (; ) is a style of Cinema of the United States, Hollywood Crime film, crime dramas that emphasizes cynicism (contemporary), cynical attitudes and motivations. The 1940s and 1950s are generally regarded as the "classic period" of Ameri ...

directed by Roy Rowland, based on the novel by William P. McGivern, and starring Robert Taylor, Janet Leigh, and

George Raft George Raft (né Ranft; September 26, 1901 – November 24, 1980) was an American film actor and dancer identified with portrayals of gangsters in crime melodramas of the 1930s and 1940s. A stylish leading man in dozens of movies, Raft is remembe ...

.Everett Aaker, ''The Films of George Raft'', McFarland & Company, 2013 p 159

Plot

Christopher Kelvaney is a crooked police officer who takes bribes and payoffs from criminals and other nefarious folk. His brother Eddie is a young member of the police force who is honest and loyal. In a penny arcade, a drug dealer is stabbed to death by a man who claims the territory for himself, and Eddie witnesses the murderer flee. Mob boss Dan Beaumonte gives orders to Kelvaney to buy his brother's silence. Eddie refuses, and Kelvaney is unable to persuade Eddie's sweetheart, nightclub singer Karen Stephenson, to change his mind. The ruthless Beaumonte brutally mistreats his moll Nancy Corlane, who then tries to help Kelvaney do what he has to do. Kelvaney exposes the fact that Karen was once a mobster's girlfriend in Miami. He gets her to admit that she's not in love with Eddie and is willing to let him go if it will save his life. An out-of-town

hitman Contract killing (also known as murder-for-hire) is a form of murder or assassination in which one party hires another party to kill a targeted person or people. It involves an illegal agreement which includes some form of compensation, moneta ...

named Langley is brought in to kill both brothers, but succeeds only in killing Eddie. His conscience aroused, Kelvaney goes after the mob leaders himself. He admits his corruption to superiors, but asks for a chance to bring them evidence that will convict those responsible for his brother's murder. In order to bring down Beaumont's entire syndicate, Kelvaney his prepared to tell what he knows about all of their illegal activities, even though this will implicate himself. Kelvaney succeeds in apprehending Langley, although he is shot in the process. He asks for forgiveness for his crooked ways on the way to the hospital

Cast

* Robert Taylor as Det. Sgt. Christopher Kelvaney * Janet Leigh as Karen Stephenson *

as Dan Beaumonte * Steve Forrest as Eddie Kelvaney * Anne Francis as Nancy Corlane * Robert Ellenstein as Det. Sidney Y. Myers * Robert F. Simon as Ackerman * Anthony Ross as Father Ahearn * Alan Hale, Jr. as Johnny Stark * Peter Brocco as George 'Wrinkles' Fallon *

Vince Edwards Vince Edwards (born Vincent Edward Zoine; July 9, 1928 – March 11, 1996) was an American actor, director, and singer. He was best known for his TV role as Dr. Ben Casey and as Major Cliff Bricker in the 1968 war film '' The Devil's Brigade' ...

as Joey Langley * Olive Carey as Selma * Roy Barcroft as Lt. Vince D. Bardeman *

Dale Van Sickel Dale Harris Van Sickel (November 29, 1907 – January 25, 1977) was an American college football, basketball and baseball player during the 1920s, who later became a Hollywood motion picture actor and stunt performer for over forty years. Van ...

as Manny * Ray Teal as Patrolman Mullins * Nesdon Booth as Detective Garrett * Robert Burton as Inspector Adrian Cassidy

Production

The film was based on a 1954 novel by William McGiven, who had written the novel on which ''The Big Heat'' was based. The ''New York Times'' called it "a classic study in guilt, retribution and atonement - without for an instant forgetting to tell an exciting story of swift action." MGM bought the screen rights prior to publication in November 1953 and assigned Nicholas Nayfack to produce. Sidney Boehm, who had adapted ''The Big Heat'', wrote the script. In March 1954 MGM assigned Robert Taylor to star, with shooting to begin in May. Filming was pushed back on another Taylor film, ''Many Rivers to Cross''. In April 1954 Roy Rowland was assigned to direct Support roles were given to Janet Leigh, Steve Forrest and George Raft; the latter was making his first "A" picture in some years. It was the last film Leigh made under her contract at MGM where she had been for eight years. Anne Francis was cast as Raft's moll. Francis described it as "the one part I've been waiting for" and it led to her being signed to a long-term contract by MGM.

Reception

Box office

According to MGM records the film earned $1,417,000 in the US and Canada and $1,092,000 elsewhere resulting in a profit of $920,000. - figures are rentals in the US and Canada

Critical response

Film critic

Bosley Crowther Francis Bosley Crowther Jr. (July 13, 1905 – March 7, 1981) was an American journalist, writer, and film critic for ''The New York Times'' for 27 years. His work helped shape the careers of many actors, directors and screenwriters, though some ...

gave the film a positive review and wrote, "This is not a new thesis. They've been making movies on it for years. And ''Rogue Cop'' is not so exceptional in its construction or performance that it is likely to cause surprise. But it is a well-done melodrama, produced and directed in a hard, crisp style, and it is very well acted by Robert Taylor in the somewhat disagreeable title role...For what it is in the line of crime pictures, there's a lot to be said for ''Rogue Cop.''" It led to a brief comeback in "A" pictures for George Raft.

Awards

Nominations *

Academy Awards The Academy Awards, commonly known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit in film. They are presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) in the United States in recognition of excellence in ...

: Oscar, Best Cinematography, Black-and-White, John F. Seitz; 1955.

References

External links

* * * essay by author Stone Wallace at Film Noir of the Week
Review of film
at Variety * {{Roy Rowland 1954 films 1954 crime drama films American black-and-white films American crime drama films Film noir Films about brothers Films based on American novels Films based on crime novels Films directed by Roy Rowland Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer films 1950s English-language films 1950s American films English-language crime drama films