The Case Against Brooklyn

The Case Against Brooklyn is a 1958 film noir crime film directed by Paul Wendkos, starring Darren McGavin and Margaret Hayes,^[1] and based on the True Magazine article "I Broke the Brooklyn Graft Scandal" by crime reporter Ed Reid.^[2][3] The film features depictions of American police corruption, though no police officer in uniform is shown to be corrupt.

The Case Against Brooklyn
Original film poster
Directed by	Paul Wendkos
Screenplay by	Raymond T. Marcus Daniel B. Ullman
Story by	Daniel B. Ullman
Based on	"I Broke the Brooklyn Graft Scandal" by Ed Reid
Produced by	Charles H. Schneer
Starring	Darren McGavin Margaret Hayes
Cinematography	Fred Jackman, Jr.
Edited by	Edwin H. Bryant
Production company	Morningside Productions
Distributed by	Columbia Pictures
Release date	June 1958 (1958-06)
Running time	81 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

Plot

In an attempt to combat police corruption, newly graduated rookie cops are recruited to serve undercover to find information on a complex illegal betting network in Brooklyn.^[4][5] One of these officers, ex-Marine Pete Harris, formerly with Military Intelligence in Japan, is tasked to make the acquaintance of a woman whose husband was recently murdered by the Mob over gambling debts.^[6]

Cast

• Darren McGavin as Pete Harris
• Margaret Hayes as Lil Polombo née Alexander (as Maggie Hayes)
• Warren Stevens as Rudi Franklin
• Peggy McCay as Mrs. Jane Harris
• Tol Avery as Dist. Atty. Michael W. Norris
• Emile Meyer as Police Capt. T.W. Wills
• Nestor Paiva as Finelli
• Brian G. Hutton as Jess Johnson (as Brian Hutton)
• Robert Osterloh as Det. Sgt. Bonney
• Joe Turkel as Henchman Monte
• Bobby Helms as Himself - Vocalist

Further reading

• Park, William (2011), "Appendix A:Within the Genre", What is Film Noir?, Bucknell University Press, ISBN 978-1-6114-8363-5