No matter what I think of this movie overall, I hate that the film has an awful cliché. Apparently, there's a mom in this film that is a moron--a victim and a stupid one at that. You see, at one point a family is being held captive by killers. When the young son jumps on of the thugs, the thug's gun falls to the floor---and the mother just stands there!!! The tough thug and a 12 year-old are tumbling on the floor and the gun is only inches from the hateful old broad--and she just stands there!!! I hate this cliché and hate women who behave like walking brain stems! Or, perhaps she just hates the kid and hoping the guy kills him!
The film is a crime versus the District Attorney film. Big Bill Anderson is run out of one town, but in the next he decides to create his criminal empire and is so smart that the D.A. can't prosecute him. Despite some excellent efforts, the case just can't be made against the man. And, for his trouble, the local newspaper calls for his resignation. When he tries something very desperate and a little crazy, the D.A. finds that not only doesn't he have a case against Anderson but he himself might be heading to prison! Unfortunately, the film ends with a really, really bad scene--one that requires the criminals to be even dumber than the lady earlier in the film!!
Overall, this is a semi-competent B-movie made by the king of Poverty Row studios, Monogram. It's all very watchable but also not all that inspired. For Monogram, it's a good film. For a decent studio (which it wasn't), it would be sub-par. Some poor writing here and there (such as the incident described at the beginning and the bomb at the end) make this one a time-passer at best and not much more.
The film is a crime versus the District Attorney film. Big Bill Anderson is run out of one town, but in the next he decides to create his criminal empire and is so smart that the D.A. can't prosecute him. Despite some excellent efforts, the case just can't be made against the man. And, for his trouble, the local newspaper calls for his resignation. When he tries something very desperate and a little crazy, the D.A. finds that not only doesn't he have a case against Anderson but he himself might be heading to prison! Unfortunately, the film ends with a really, really bad scene--one that requires the criminals to be even dumber than the lady earlier in the film!!
Overall, this is a semi-competent B-movie made by the king of Poverty Row studios, Monogram. It's all very watchable but also not all that inspired. For Monogram, it's a good film. For a decent studio (which it wasn't), it would be sub-par. Some poor writing here and there (such as the incident described at the beginning and the bomb at the end) make this one a time-passer at best and not much more.