THE HOODLUM-1951-Vincent Lubeck (Lawrence Tierney) is released on parole thanks to the pleas of his mother (Lisa Glom) even though the warden (Gene Roth) was against it. He goes to work in the gas station owned by his brother Johnny (Edward Tierney; real life brother of Lawrence). Unfortunately it's right across the street from a bank! He finds the armored car in front very enticing. Also the bank's secretary who comes in to get her car fixed. It's clear Lubeck has other things on his mind. When Rosa (Allene Roberts), Johnny's girlfriend tries to talk to him, he puts some unwanted moves on her. He runs into old pal Marty (John DeSimone) and convinces him to join his plan to steal the armored car. He has an affair with Rosa, then wines and dines the secretary (Marjorie Riordan) to get info. When Rosa becomes pregnant, Vince dumps her and she commits suicide. He figures out a plan and his newly acquired gang execute it. One of them dies as do two guards. They use a funeral procession as a cover but when they go to divvy up the loot Vince gets too greedy and the others knock him out and take the swag. Newspaper headlines tell us that the gang is captured and finger Lubeck as the ringleader. He goes to the secretary but she makes him leave at gunpoint. Then he visits his mother who tells him off, regretting all the times she defended him. Then she dies. Johnny wants to kill him but can't and Vince is fatally shot by a police Lt. (Stuart Randall) in the city garbage dump.
This gritty forgotten film noir crime drama should have been called "Women and mothers are stupid. Wardens and brothers are smart". This was the third film German born director Max Nosseck made with the infamous star Lawrence Tierney. DILLINGER and KILL OR BE KILLED are the two other must see thrillers. THE HOODLUM may also be the first American film to have a character use the word “pregnant”.
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