The Big Operator (1959) User Reviews

Nasty customer based on Jimmy Hoffa

[bkoganbing · 7/10 · 3 September 2015]

In 1959 the year The Big Operator came out the labor racketeering Senate hearings were occupying a lot of the televised news that year. Senator John F. Kennedy's presence got a lot of television exposure that year via the McClellan hearings into organized crime, not to mention his brother Robert F. Kennedy was the counsel for those hearings and first came into contact with Jimmy Hoffa.

Hoffa by all accounts was as nasty and pugnacious as Mickey Rooney as Little Joe Braun. And the Kennedy brothers would have told you he was as capable the deadly things he is as the head of a local of machinists here. Rooney's character is clearly based on Jimmy Hoffa. Hoffa was as short as Mickey Rooney in real life.

After constant badgering by committee counsel Peter Leeds as Rooney continually pleads the 5th amendment Rooney is tricked into saying he doesn't know contract killer Ray Danton who works for him. The only problem is that a couple of honest union members, Steve Cochran and Mel Torme saw the two of them outside Rooney's office. What to do?

What to do includes arson and kidnapping, setting Torme on fire and kidnapping Jay North who is Cochran's son. Not to mention beating up a blindfolded Cochran and telling him to lie before the committee if he wants to see his son alive again.

Mickey Rooney shows his considerable range as an actor in this film and it's nice to see Cochran as a good guy for a change. The film has one jarring note though all those who saw this in theater back in 1959 wouldn't agree. Mamie Van Doren gives a subdued performance as Cochran's wife and North's mother. But she's still the glamorous Mamie Van Doren, a poor man's Marilyn Monroe. Back when I was 12 when this came out I don't remember seeing any mothers who looked like that. No doubt she had everyone's hormones in a rage.

The Big Operator which also has a nice jazz score is a good snapshot of the times.

When a whistleblower confronts a nose blower, it' snot a pretty sight.

[kalbimassey · 7/10 · 14 March 2022]

At five feet two inches, Mickey Rooney must have been Hollywood's smallest big operator. The words arrogant, deceitful and bigoted barely scratch the surface of this thoroughly odious character, immersed to the eyeballs in union corruption, underhand dealings and with a misguided view that anyone can be bought at the right price or, if necessary, with sufficient muscle, but not his!

He receives a mixed reception in addressing a blue collar meeting with a bumptious delivery of bad jokes and even worse puns, but his mood changes upon recognizing two individuals (Steve Cochran and Mel Torme), who could potentially identify him for his tawdry activities. In attempting to buy them off, Rooney encounters two insurmountable and previously alien obstacles: decency and integrity. Cochran, the diligent salt of the earth, family man, coolly dismisses him, whilst the more animated, vocal Torme sees red, (years before Zaz turned blue). Rooney's escalating exasperation with each must have driven his blood pressure off the scale, but at least the script writers offered some clemency, lightening his load, by allowing him to repeat the line, "I refuse to answer that question on the grounds of the Fifth Amendment" ad nauseam.

Kidnapping, torture, bullying picketts, the constant sense of threat, which results in Torme being burned on the same day he narrowly avoided being fired. This 'I'm Alright Jack' without the laughs turns surprisingly brutal, orchestrated by the mob heavy, safety in numbers clan, but curiously offset by an extravagant punch-up, rooted as much in comedy western as film noir.

Not exceptional, but a solid, grounded engaging statement on some of the salient issues of the time. Ultimately projecting an ethos of resisting violence and villainy every bit as pertinent today.

Mickey Rooney Is Big

[boblipton · 7/10 · 30 January 2020]

Mickey Rooney is the corrupt, fast-talking, deal-making head of the Union, up against a congressional investigation. He takes the Fifth when answering every question. When union member Mel Torme gets torched in front of his home, pal Steve Cochran is ready to testify, but Rooney kidnaps his son, has his enforcers beat up Cochran, and tell him that if he recasts on the witness chair, he'll see his son again.

Charles Haas is in charge of this tough movie, and his actors are cast against type and perform beautifully. Not only is Rooney terrific, but Mamie van Doren is very good, Torme is terrific, and performers like Charles Chaplin Junior and Jackie Coogan - he's a corrupt lawyer - demonstrate that good actors are good actors.

The movie turns a bit conventional in the end, and Van Alexander's blaring jazz score sometimes obscures what's going on, but this is a tough movie.

Sordid, but it has its moments. Rooney is terrific but his fans will not like it!

[JohnHowardReid · 7/10 · 29 June 2017]

Copyright 1959 by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. No recorded New York opening. U.S. release: September 1959. U.K. release: January 1960. Australian release: 2 June 1960. 91 minutes.

SYNOPSIS: Little Joe Braun, the racketeer head of a labor union, is called before a U.S. Senate Committee, but refuses to testify. The only witness against him is brutally murdered by two of his strong- arm men. Unfortunately, two union members spotted one of the strong- arm boys.

NOTES: A re-make of "Joe Smith, American" (1942).

COMMENT: Mamie Van Doren as an incongruous hausfrau is unintentionally amusing in this otherwise rather sordid gangster melodrama from exploitation specialist, Albert Zugsmith. It must be admitted that Mickey Rooney gives a terrific performance as the sadistic racketeer, but it is hardly one that will endear him to his "Andy Hardy" followers. Haas has directed this nasty movie with appropriate punch and, as usual in Zugsmith productions, the movie takes time out for a few tantalizing glimpses of interesting personalities – in this case, Billy Daniels and Charles Chaplin, Jr.

Rooney played an excellent villain.

[planktonrules · 7/10 · 9 February 2020]

Through the first part of his career, Mickey Rooney was a kid and played 1001 different kid roles...and nearly all of them as swell boy next door sorts. During this time, he was an immensely popular actor and no one could have imagined him playing villains. Well, by the 1950s, Rooney was no longer a kid and times had changed and soon he began taking on meatier and nastier parts. In films like "Quicksand", "Baby Face Nelson", "Drive a Crooked Road" and "The Last Mile", he showed that he wasn't going to be typecast but could play real scumbags...and played them very well...particularly in "The Last Mile".

Here in "The Big Operator", Rooney is back playing villains. This time he's a Jimma Hoff-like guy who isn't above using violence to control the unions. At times, he comes off as a nice guy but if you cross him, he's a nasty sociopath....and mostly a sociopath! The authorities are trying to bring him to justice but he keeps pleading the Fifth and getting away with all sorts of atrocities.

When Bill (Steve Cochran) and Fred (Mel Tormé) just happen to be in the wrong place, they see union thug Joe Braun (Rooney) and this contradicts Joe's prior testimony...meaning at the very least he could be jailed for perjury. So, at first Joe offers the guys wonderful jobs as union organizers. And, when they turn him down, his goons turn up the heat. Eventually, they even light poor Fred ablaze....and Bill has had enough and agrees to testify against Joe. But then, the really nasty side of Braun and his goons appears...and they'll stop at nothing to stop Bill.

The casting of this film is very odd...though it works. Not only does Rooney play a thug, Steve Cochran (who OFTEN played thugs) plays the hero and Mel Tormé of all people plays Cochran's friend! Strange....but it worked. Overall, a great gritty film whose only downside is the ending...where occasionally the film was a bit hard to believe. Yet, despite this, it was very satisfying to watch.

The little big shot

[wilvram · 6/10 · 27 August 2020]

This violent gangster thriller shows how fast pacing can succeed in building tension despite several implausibilities in plotting and characterization. Mickey Rooney shows he could play a thoroughly nasty individual, but his Joe Braun comes over as little more than a caricature. Several incidents strain credibility, not least when one man is seen going up in flames, and is presumably killed, only to emerge later wearing a few strips of sticking plaster but otherwise OK. Despite these faults, the film remains eminently watchable. Steve Cochran gives one of the better performances as the hero.

Nostalgic reminder of late 1950's b/w wide screen gangster movies

[Maverick1962 · 7/10 · 31 January 2021]

I loved this picture, The Big Operator, because it reminded me of the pictures I went to see as a young teenager in the late 50's. I remember seeing Steve Cochran in I Mobster at the time and really liked him. He's the good union man in The Big Operator, married to Mamie Van Doren, when he's approached to lie on the witness stand against the corrupt union boss played by the diminutive Mickey Rooney. Rooney, who is terrific, if not slightly over playing his James Cagney style Mr Nasty, has kidnapped Cochran's kid, played by Jay North. He's holding the kid in order to blackmail Cochran into retracting his evidence against Rooney. Ray Danton, Jim Backus, Jackie Coogan and Mel Torme are along for the ride as well as some other famous characters in smaller parts. Torme, or the velvet fog, is surprisingly effective as Cochran's tough little pal. For a world class jazz singer, he's a surprisingly good actor too. The underrated Leo Gordon is on hand for the really brutal stuff and he should have made it much bigger on screen as he was an actor at the time in a similar vein to Charles Bronson. I believe he was also a successful writer for movies. The ending is a bit far fetched but this little B movie gripped me from beginning to end and Rooney and Cochran are worth the entrance fee.

Fantastic cast and story.

[jlinn39778 · 10/10 · 2 February 2002]

Rooney in his best dramatic role. Mickey is a crooked union boss who will stop at nothing to get his way. The nonstop action includes strong arm union goons beating Mel Torme, then setting him on fire and dumping him on Mamie Van Dorens tree lawn. Fortunately the fire is put out in time, enabling him to lead the police to the bad guys hideout. I won't give the ending away, except to say there's plenty of bagpipe music. Must see to believe!!!

The title's something of a misnomer...

[MOscarbradley · 6/10 · 21 September 2020]

The title's something of a misnomer since "The Big Operator" in question is none other than the diminutive Mickey Rooney. This Albert Zugsmith movie, which he produced in 1959, is a gangster flic about a mob-ruled union with Rooney as 'Little Joe', a corrupt union leader and it has a better than average supporting cast headed by Steve Cochran, (in a rare good-guy role), Mamie Van Doren, (miscast but coping as Cochran's sweet, blonde wife), Mel Torme, (good in a rare dramatic role), as well as Ray Danton and Jim Backus.

The plot's nothing new and, to be honest, the script is fairly ridiculous but it's reasonably well directed by Charles Haas, nicely shot in Cinemascope by Walter Castle and makes for an entertaining 90 minutes. Rooney drifts through it and you would hardly call what he does 'acting' but he was a star, all five foot two inches of him, a punk Little Caesar and he dominates the picture. It's certainly no classic and it's certainly no "Touch of Evil" but it's a good, tawdry genre picture and perfect drive-in fodder.

Obviously, Boy's Town Didn't Do Him Much Good....

[lrrap · 4/10 · 5 August 2015]

QUICK! Name a late-50's film that stars Mr. Magoo, Uncle Fester, Dennis the Menace, Vampira, The "Velvet Fog", bandleader Ray Anthony, (his then-wife) Mamie van Doren ---plus the biggest little street-punk of them all: Whitey Marsh (from 1938's "Boy's Town")---AKA Mickey Rooney! It seems that Whitey's Boy's Town training has worn off, leading him back to his crime-ridden roots. In any case, Rooney's character in "The Big Operator" is a vicious, conniving, arrogant, loud- mouthed, Capone-like (but still pint-sized) Union boss.

Interestingly, the good guy/hero is (very effectively) played by Steve Cochran, who made a career out of playing vicious hoods and thugs; I kept waiting for him to stand up and kick the crap out of Leo Gordon and Rooney's other goons but, alas, that moment never really comes.

If it weren't for the grueling, L-O-N-G torture scene of Cochran , "The Big Operator" plays almost like a semi-comedic parody of the Noir style- -sensational and shocking to the max, but so clichéd and filled with cheezy dialogue and over-played scenes and stereotypes that I found myself laughing out loud frequently---in between the groans.

True, the film accurately portrays the thuggish, violent world of big- labor union politics--no laughing matter. But with "the Mick" stomping 'n chomping a cigar and barking orders and threats at everyone around him, it's hard to take seriously. Did you ever think you'd see Mel Torme dumped out of a car on his front lawn and set on fire with gasoline? (Looks like the stunt man who performed this scene was in REAL danger!) The fact that he shows up late in the film with a big bandage on his head (and hand), but otherwise seems perfectly OK, is just another aspect of "B.O." (Big Operator) that makes it seem like a SEND- UP of the genre. Or how about Charlie Chaplin, Jr. being fed into a cement mixer in the opening scene? WOW! The only thing I was expecting that DIDN'T happen was some sort of lurid kidnap/titillation scene with Mamie van Doren; I can't imagine how the writer, director, and schlock- meister producer Albert Zugsmith let this opportunity escape them. So Mamie, basically untouched, remains pure 50's-style, domestic housewife "Cheescake", whose main dramatic challenges consist of servin' up waffles, roast beef, and brown potatoes (no vacuuming or ironing, though).

Also interesting is the fact that the script is based on a short story by Paul Gallico, author of such children's classics as "The Snow Goose", "The Small Miracle", and the original story that ultimately became the magical MGM musical "Lili". Gallico certainly had his dark, "adult" side, but I doubt that his original story was anywhere near as over-the-top and grotesque as "B.O!"

Another L-O-N-G scene has Steve Cochran driving his wife and pals around at night trying to locate the mobster's hideout; it stretches credulity WAY beyond its breaking point. The miffed, frustrated reactions of the other 5 people in the car had me guffawing out loud, as did the big climatic fight scene in the hideout, which is staged in a manner reminiscent of the Three Stooges' best brawls and pie fights (weapons used during the fight include a mop, a picture frame, and a silver loving cup, which makes a lovely musical "bong" when it connects with Ray Anthony's noggin).

The cops FINALLY are called into action about 4 minutes from the end, basically sleep-walking through their parts. But the way Steve Cochran finally figures out where Mickey and his own bratty kidnapped kid (Jay "Dennis the Menace" North) are hiding is perhaps the single most hilarious moment in the film; I was almost giddy with delight as I replayed it several times.

Steve, spying a cigar butt on the mantle place, picks it up and says to the police detective: "It's the kind of cigar Joe Braun (Mickey Rooney) smokes; FEEL THAT....it's still warm(!!)" He then goes to a closet and discovers cigar ashes on the floor, which miraculously leads to the discovery of a secret compartment in the closet. Steve flings it open...and there's Mickey, sort of crouching with his face sticking out, just itching to be slugged! (which FINALLY happens).

But...I do go on. Part violent indictment of union/mob violence, part sensationalist noir, part cheap, vaudeville-style parody...especially considering its eclectic cast., "The Big Operator" is an experience you won't forget easily, try as you might. It's definitely too loony to be taken seriously. How the once-mighty, wholesome, family-oriented MGM Studio had fallen by 1959! But I'm glad the film is available. If you're the type who can't resist walking through the freak show at the carnival-- just for the shock and thrill---"The Big Operator" is probably your cup of tea.

LR

PS-- Interesting also to note the high incidence of jazz musicians in the cast--Torme, Ray Anthony and singer Billy Daniels, who has a walk-on as a crooked gas station owner

Unforgivable

[soup831 · 22 July 2020]

Its unforgivable that the main reviewer didnt mention Grabowski and Vito Musso as two of the actors. And Rooney in Crooked Mile was so wimpy w/the woman that I couldnt watch more than a few minutes.

Mickey Rooney in the Role of a Big-Time Mafia Boss

[Uriah43 · 6/10 · 20 November 2023]

This film essentially begins with a mob boss by the name of "Joe Braun" (Mickey Rooney) being questioned at a Senate committee concerning certain illegal activities he has committed as the head of a labor union. Being mindful of his Constitutional rights about self-incrimination, he refuses to answer almost all of the questions directed to him. Although quite frustrated with his refusal to answer these questions, the senators then call upon an expert witness who can attest to some of his crimes. The problem, however, is that the witness they are relying upon was abducted and killed the night before on the orders of Joe Bruan. That being the case, their ability to acquire any proof against him is greatly diminished and the hearing is subsequently adjourned. Even so, having just been spotted talking to an underworld hitman named "Oscar Wetzel" (Ray Danton), Joe Braun becomes concerned that these two new witnesses by the name of "Bill Gibson" (Steve Cochran) and "Fred McAfee" (Mel Torme) might also testify against him. So, to ensure that doesn't happen, Joe Braun devises a plan to employ them directly under his supervision. However, when both of them refuse, he reverts to other methods which, he believes, will be much more persuasive. Now, rather than reveal any more, I will just say that this was a pretty good crime-drama which, undoubtably, capitalized on several instances involving organized crime and labor unions during this particular time in American history. I especially liked the performance of Mickey Rooney who, although quite small in stature, did an excellent job as a ruthless crime boss. And even though the ending was a bit too unrealistic, I still enjoyed this film for the most part, and I have rated it accordingly. Slightly above average.

Totally nonsensical

[malcolmgsw · 4/10 · 30 October 2020]

This is is a ridiculous attempt at a mob film.Who can take Mickey Rooney seriously as the union boss.At 5 feet nothing he is towered over by all of his mob.Nor does he have the presence of a Lee J Cobb.He chews on a cigar and shouts his line.It doesn't work and undermines the whole film.

You don't set anybody on fire unless I tell you to!

[mark.waltz · 6/10 · 3 October 2023]

I'll give Mickey Rooney credit for not completely overacting in this crime drama where he's a union boss loosely based on Jimmy Hoffa using criminal methods when his efforts to control others gets out of control. Pleading the fifth in the most arrogant of ways, he's able to avoid prison for contempt of court and resorts to kidnapping and torture of the rebellious Steve Cochran and later son Jay North in order to get Cochran to testify on his behalf.

Not a fan of Rooney's later dramatic parts outside of a mere few, I expected him to play another sneering, spitting bully, and while he's a bully of the highest degree, he manages to give a varied performance even though he obviously seems to be acting the part rather than being it.

Mamie Van Doren is Cochran's wife, and highly resembles Marilyn Monroe (more than Jayne Mansfield ever did), but is a decent actress even though a blonde bombshell housewife and mother is a rather odd sight in a film like this.

I'll admit that I expected to not give this a favorable review, but was immediately drawn in by the jazzy musical score and gritty setup. Rooney's men are more believable than him, but the way he says the above quote in regards to the man set aflame did have me in chills. Jim Backus is completely serious as a representative of the D. A.'s office, and Ray Danton, Mel Torme, Charlie Chaplin Jr. And Jackie Coogan are effective in support. Vampira is very funny in a cameo as a pretentious cafe owner whose juke box plays only opera. Intense and nail-biting towards the end, so I have to declare that I liked it enough to mark it as "good".

Rather obscure low budget film with some unexpected casting

[AlsExGal · 8/10 · 7 September 2020]

Modestly budgeted but surprisingly entertaining crime drama, with Mickey Rooney as a Jimmy Hoffa-style union boss ready to resort to gangland methods when a couple of honest union men see him in the company of a known gangster the night that a witness against Rooney in an upcoming crime investigation goes missing.

This film has a nice jazzy musical score, and some unexpected casting. Rooney is effective with an in-your-face performance as the ruthless union president. But equally effective, and a nice change of pace casting for him, too, is Steve Cochran, normally a screen tough guy, here playing a soft spoken decent family man who crosses paths with Rooney. Ray Danton is a cold blooded hood working for the union boss who not only throws someone into a cement mixer but sets another person on fire after dumping him out of a car.

Vampira, pretty much unrecognizable without her Vampira makeup, is a woman running a beatnik club, Mel Torme plays Cochran's fiery natured friend (Mel's not bad), and, the most unusual casting of all is, ready for this, Mamie Van Doren in a subdued performance as Cochran's homemaker wife. She still looks like bleached blonde Mamie, of course, but she's not half bad. Mamie as Donna Reed? See it to believe it.

The film has a protracted sequence is which Cochran, who is ready to give testimony against Rooney, is kidnapped and Rooney has goons working him over (Leo Gordon being one of them, yikes!) to try to get him to change his testimony. When Cochran refuses to cooperate, Rooney then resorts to nastier means to get his way.

this is unbelievable.

[terrydalley-24095 · 3/10 · 15 April 2021]

Mickey Rooney plays a geat part in a film that is so bad it is laughable .

The acting is so bad and i do not dought it is because the script was written on a fag packet .they stick two plasters on a guys eyes but do not tie him up at all and they take him home still witheyes covered over a long distance away only for him to remember the way back .

Such a pity about this film it had some great ok old actors trying to make the best if it and Mamie Van Doren looking lost .

Its all about the hard done by workers but the lead guys house is funished so well i thought he must own the factory not ve jyst a worker i watched it till the end as a tribute to the kate great Mickey Rooney RIP mate .

T2th0.

The half-brother of On the Waterfront

[charliegalloway · 9/10 · 30 December 2021]

This a fabulous film .

A brutal ,dark depiction of Mob graft in the 1950s it has a career best performance from Mickey Rooney , as a horrific and nasty union boss ( yes really ) and excellent support from Steve Cochran and Mamie van Doren.

The opening scene has Charlie Chaplin Jrs character thrown in the back of a mixing cement truck and the portrayal of mob violence doesn't hold back .

Ray Danton as the main crim is so cool he could be in Blue Rondo A La Turk and the soundtrack by Van Alexander is terrific .

This is the darker half-brother of On the Waterfront but should be far better known.

Great film noir crime story with fantastic cast

[zxdex88 · 9/10 · 28 August 2021]

This is a great Film Noir crime thriller with the most fantastic cast: Mickey Rooney, Steve Cochran, Mamie Van Doren, Mel Tormé, Ray Danton, Jim Backus, Jackie Coogan, Charles Chaplin Jr., Maila (Vampira!) Nurmi, Jay North, Leo Gordon and Don 'Red' Barry.

(The real old time-movie fans will recognize all these names.)

This is a little known, obscure, film noir crime story from the tail end of the 1950s, loosely based on Jimmy Hoffa. Mickey Rooney does a totally believable job chewing up the scenery as a ruthless, corrupt union boss.

Jay North, just months away from starting his run as Dennis The Menace on TV, gives a very believable performance as a typical suburban little boy who gets kidnapped and held ransom by the criminals out to control the unions. I was so surprised at how good Jay was at a dramatic role, yet he still infuses it with his natural good natured joyfulness that makes him so lovable. This kid is far tougher and more resilient than we ever knew before! *(Note that Jay has his natural brown hair color in this.) If you like old black and white crime noir 'B' movies, this is a great one! Great music too. I give it a 9 out of 10 stars.

Terrific B movie thriller

[marccherry-15866 · 8/10 · 25 April 2022]

Mickey Rooney generally not one of my fave actors is utterly riveting as the cocky, vicious corrupt union boss. Great storyline a film where you don't even want to blink & miss what the hell's gonna happen next. Tho in a non speaking role Ray Danton is chilling as a hitman he leaves you in no doubt he's a psycho that kills for kicks. The following year he played the title role in the excellent Rise & Fall of Legs Diamond & was superb in that. A very underrated movie well worth seeing.