The Brothers Rico

An ex-employee of the mob is forced to return to his old stomping grounds after his brothers get in trouble with the mob. This is an absorbing drama that takes a bleak, realistic look at mob life. Conte and Foster are fabulous as a married couple trying to distance themselves from his past as an accountant for the syndicate. They are especially good in their natural depiction of married life as they go about their morning routine. Also impressive is Gates as a mob boss. Conte appeared in a number of mob films, including "The Godfather." Curiously, Grant (who married Bing Crosby following this film) has a small role but is given equal billing with Conte and Foster.

"You dirty rotten stinking animal", these were the harsh words actor Richard Conte who plays the bookkeeper Eddie Rico blandly expresses to a Mr. Rogers type of mob boss Sid Kubik, played by character actor Larry Gates. This is a black and white 1957 film which softens the film's gritty under story which is that you don't mess with the mob. Some of the bad guys in this film were miscast and they could have been playing children's ice cream truck drivers rather than rough and tough hit men. Yes, there is a plot in the film, but I wouldn't say that it was very suspenseful and I won't be putting it on my DVD film noir purchase list. I give it a barely passable 5 out of 10 IMDB rating.

Richard Conte plays an ex-gangster who's gone straight many years before the film begins. However, even though he's a successful businessman, he's called out of the blue to do them a couple favors. Unfortunately, it turns out that the mob is looking for his brothers--and although they claim to want to get them out of the country for their own good, it sure looks as if they are just using him as bait. The casting of this film left a lot to be desired. There was a 26 year difference in ages of Conte and Darren and they are supposed to be brothers! In addition, they looked like they were 26 years apart. Yet despite this, it's a taut and well-acted film. For lovers of film noir, you won't be disappointed--though the movie is more cerebral and less violent than most examples in the genre. Plus the plot if very interesting and kept me engaged throughout.