There are too many strong ingredients in this film not to give it the highest possible rates in spite of all its weaknesses and flaws. The acting above all is terrific, and the question is who is the most impressing star here, Richard Conte or Anne Bancroft. I don't think I have ever seen Conte as consistently straight in his role as here, not deviating one moment from the very difficult character he has to play. This is one of Anne Bancroft's early films, but already here you have her in full bloom as the marvellously intensive and brutally strong character actress she always was. The story is excellent as well, Broderick Crawford giving a virtuoso performance as the father of an extensive syndicate spread all over the U.S. and gradually getting fenced in by justice and the FBI, constantly losing his temper but brutally convincing as a godfather with a bleeding heart for his family, and especially for his daughter, Anne Bancroft, who deserts him in a en effort to get out of the hoodlum vicious circle, and tragically failing in her brave effort. The film is a tragedy of great proportions, many being involved and also executed, most of them righteously indeed, while you must regret the loss of some others, who just happened to get in the way while trying to keep out of the game. It's a dark and very solemn noir with sinister connotations bringing some lasting afterthought - this is not a drama you'll be likely to forget, like most dramas with innocent victims. In spite of its insufficiency and rather hasty and casual touch in its making, like the cool matter-of-fact consistency of Conte himself, this film should earn a place as one of the great classical noirs, almost like Jules Dassin's "Rififi" of the same year.
Review of New York Confidential
