Chicago Confidential (1957) starring Brian Keith, Dick Foran, Beverly Garland, Elisha Cook Jr.
Chicago Confidential is one of those films that wouldn’t be produced today. It’s not that it’s a film noir. The basic plot has an honest Illinois District Attorney. Played well by Brian Keith. He’s investigating a murder seemingly committed by a Union head played by Dick Foran. Foran’s character is innocent. His girlfriend, convincingly played by Beverly Garland, is instrumental in convincing Keith after the conviction.
The honest Union head has been framed by murder by the Union Vice President. A man who takes over the Union and swiftly brings in corruption and intimidation. And in modern Hollywood, speaking badly of a Union is taboo. All said, it’s a very good cops-and-robbers movie. The ambitious Keith has aspirations of becoming Governor. He’s tempted to look the other way when the girlfriend makes him wonder about the rightfulness of the conviction. But with an old-school CSI moment with an oscilloscope (no, really) he does the right thing. And he pursues justice instead of political ambition. And he gets rewarded in the end. Chicago Confidential isn’t a great movie, but it’s definitely a good one and enjoyable. I rate it 3 stars out of 5.