Four Boys and a Gun (1957)
Four Boys and a Gun (1957)
„Four Boys and a Gun“ is a 1957 film- noir crime film directed by William Berke. The screenplay by Philip Yordan and Leo Townsend is based on the 1944 novel of the same title by Willard Wiener.
Four „boys,“ Ollie Denker, Eddie Richards, Johnny Doyle and Stanley Badek 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 gets 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, Elizabeth Doyle is expecting a baby. He also makes his living as an amateur fighter. However, Johnny loses that opportunity.
Stanley is a disappointment to his father, Mr. Badek and only a follower. He is short, small and always picked on. Eddie lost his job as a truck driver after he hit his boss when he found out that his boss stole 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:
- Otto Hulett – District Attorney
- Robert Dryden – Joe Barton
- J. Pat O’Malley – Fight Manager
- Diana Herbert – Marie
- Patricia Sloan – Nita
- Nancy Devlin – Sophie Richards
- Patricia Bosworth – Elizabeth Doyle
- David Burns – Television Man
- Anne Seymour – Mrs. Richards
- Frank Gero – Slim
- Ned Glass – Landlord
- Karl Swenson – Mr. Badek
- Lisa Osten – Mrs. Badek
- Sid Raymond – Cab Driver
- George McIver – Fred
- Frank Campanella – Detective
- Frank Sutton – Ollie Denker
- Tarry Green – Eddie Richards
- William Hinnant – Stanley Badek
- James Franciscus – Johnny Doyle
- Joseph Campanella – Policeman Killed During Robbery
- Crahan Denton – Detective
- Steven Marlo – Gang Member
- Frank Marth – Barton’s Henchman
- Diana Sands
„Am Rande der Straße“ (Four Boys and a Gun) ist ein Film-noir-Kriminalfilm aus dem Jahr 1957 unter der Regie von William Berke. Das Drehbuch von Philip Yordan und Leo Townsend basiert auf dem gleichnamigen Roman von Willard Wiener aus dem Jahr 1944.
Vier "Jungs", Ollie Denker, Eddie Richards, Johnny Doyle und Stanley Badek betreten eine Arena, in der Amateurboxkämpfe stattfinden. Sie rauben die Kasse mit einer Pistole aus und ermorden dabei einen Polizeibeamten. Es wird nicht verraten, wer tatsächlich geschossen hat. Sie nehmen das Geld und jeder geht seinen eigenen Weg.
Es dauert nicht lange, bis die Polizei herausfindet, wer den Raubüberfall begangen hat, und sie landen alle auf dem Polizeirevier, wo sie zu dem Überfall befragt werden. Der Staatsanwalt befragt jeden von ihnen und erfährt ihre Geschichte.