New Orleans Uncensored (1955)

New Orleans Uncensored (1955)

„New Orleans Uncensored“ is a film noir directed by William Castle based on a story from Orville H. Hampton and the screenplay by Orville H. Hampton and Lewis Meltzer from 1955.

On the New Orleans shipping docks, an open hiring call for workers dissolves into a free-for-all fistfight led by representatives of racketeer Floyd „Zero“ Saxon, who intends to stifle outside competition for the men. When ex-naval officer Dan Corbett arrives at the docks looking for work, he is put off by the brawl, and goes instead to a shipyard, where he negotiates the purchase of a surplus LSM craft, with which he plans to use to start his own shipping business.

The shipyard owner agrees to allow Dan to make payments, recommending that he might find work at the shipyard by attending the longshoremen picnic. At the picnic, Dan is befriended by Alma Mae, the girl friend of Jack Petty, business agent for the longshoremen’s union.

Dan meets Joe Reilly and his wife Marie for dinner and is introduced to Scrappy Durant, Marie’s brother, a former boxer turned coach, who offers to help Dan box for the union.

Joe goes to Saxon to request a release from his job, having saved enough to go into business for himself. Saxon agrees, but after Joe departs, sends his henchmen, Deuce and Big Mike, to kill Joe because of his extensive knowledge of Saxon’s operation. Upon the discovery of Joe’s murder, New Orleans police and local politicians join with the head of the longshoremen workers to discuss the racketeers“ stronghold on the docks.

Per Saxon’s orders, two men dump gasoline near the impounded shipment and set it ablaze. Dan, working late, hastily pushes the burning shipment off the dock with a forklift to prevent the fire from spreading. The next day, Al Chittenden (self), president of the Longshoremen Association, chastises Petty for allowing the fire to occur.

Saxon summons Dan and offers him an enormous salary increase to take Joe’s job. When Dan asks frankly how the large salary is possible within union rules, Saxon is evasive, and Dan departs uncommitted.

Saxon orders Deuce and Big Mike to force a conflict between Dan and Scrappy. At the gym, Deuce tells Scrappy that Dan has confessed that Scrappy advised him of Saxon’s operation. Angered, Scrappy attempts to provoke Dan in the ring, and confused, Dan finally lashes out at Scrappy and is mortified when the coach collapses, dead. Later, Marie tells a stunned Dan that he is not to blame, as Scrappy had a bad heart, which only the family and Saxon knew about.

The police ask Dan to plant a radio monitor on one of the Saxon shipments to track its movements and soon discover the complicated ring of outlets Saxon uses to move around supplies. When Saxon discovers the monitor, he attempts to gain access to incriminating papers housed in one of the dock warehouses. With the police still unable to arrest Saxon, Chittenden assists by ordering the longshoremen to strike, thus impeding any access to the docks by Saxon’s men. Saxon sends Big Mike to beat up Dan for his complicity with the authorities, but Dan is revived by Alma, who offers him information about Saxon’s involvement in Joe’s murder in exchange for immunity. Dan locates Saxon, who has secretly entered the warehouse, and is wounded in a fight with him before Saxon is eventually arrested. Several months later, Dan and Marie relax on board his LSM as they hear the news of Saxon’s indictment.

Cast:

• Arthur Franz – Dan Corbett
• Beverly Garland – Marie Reilly
• Helene Stanton – Alma Mae
• Michael Ansara – Floyd „Zero“ Saxon
• Stacy Harris – Scrappy Durant
• William Henry – Joe Reilly
• Michael Granger – Jack Petty
• Frank Ray Perilli – Deuce
• Ed Nelson – Charlie
• Mike Mazurki – Big Mike
• Al Chittenden – Self
• Joseph L. Scheuering – Self
• Victor Schiro
• Howard L. Dey – Self
• Pete Herman – Self
• Ralph Dupas – Self
• Walter B. Hamlin – Wayne Brandon
• Allen J. Ellender Sr. – U.S. Senator
• William Woodson – Off-Screen Narrator (voice)

„New Orleans Uncensored“ ist ein Film noir unter der Regie von William Castle nach einer Geschichte von Orville H. Hampton und dem Drehbuch von Orville H. Hampton und Lewis Meltzer aus dem Jahr 1955.

Die Docks von New Orleans, Louisiana, werden von Zero Saxon, einem berüchtigten Gauner, kontrolliert. Als der ehemalige Marineoffizier Dan Corbett in die Stadt kommt, um ein eigenes Schifffahrtsunternehmen zu eröffnen, nimmt er einen Job bei Saxon an, um etwas Geld zu verdienen, ohne zu wissen, wie korrupt Saxons Unternehmen ist.

Der Vertreter der Langarbeitergewerkschaft Jack Petty und seine Freundin Alma Mae sind von Dan beeindruckt, als er einen Betrunkenen, der sie belästigt hat, zu Boden bringt. Über Saxons Hafenmanager Joe Reilly vermitteln sie Dan einen Job. Dessen Frau Marie lädt Dan daraufhin zum Abendessen ein und stellt ihm ihren Bruder Scrappy Durant vor, einen ehemaligen Preisboxer.

Joe wird von Saxons Schlägern getötet, um ihn davon abzuhalten, die illegalen Aktivitäten in den Docks zu verraten. Marie gibt zu, dass sie mit diesem Vorfall gerechnet hat. Dan geht undercover und versucht, der Polizei von New Orleans bei ihren Ermittlungen zu helfen. Aufgrund eines Missverständnisses greift ihn Scrappy in einem Boxring an und Dan tötet ihn versehentlich mit einem Schlag. Dan wird daraufhin von Saxons Männern verprügelt, aber mit Almas und Maries Hilfe kann er der Polizei helfen, Saxon zu verhaften.

Darsteller:

• Arthur Franz – Dan Corbett
• Beverly Garland – Marie Reilly
• Helene Stanton – Alma Mae
• Michael Ansara – Floyd „Zero“ Saxon
• Stacy Harris – Scrappy Durant
• William Henry – Joe Reilly
• Michael Granger – Jack Petty
• Frank Ray Perilli – Deuce
• Ed Nelson – Charlie
• Mike Mazurki – Big Mike
• Al Chittenden – Selbst
• Joseph L. Scheuering – Selbst
• Howard L. Dey – Selbst
• Pete Herman – Selbst
• Ralph Dupas – Selbst
• Walter B. Hamlin – Wayne Brandon
• Allen J. Ellender Sr. – U.S. Senator
• Victor Schiro
• William Woodson – Erzähler aus dem Off (Stimme)