‘Without His Gun He Was Naked Yellow!’

Directed by:
Roger Corman

Written by:
R. Wright Campbell

Cast:
Charles Bronson (George R. ‘Machine Gun’ Kelly), Susan Cabot (Florence ‘Flo’ Becker), Morey Amsterdam (Michael Fandango), Richard Devon (Apple), Jack Lambert (Howard), Frank DeKova (Harry), Connie Cilchrist (‘Ma’ Becker), Wally Campo (Maize), Barboura Morris (Lynn Grayson), Lori Martin (Sherryl Vito)

George ‘Machine Gun’ Kelly was one of the most notorious criminals from the prohibition days, along with Baby Face Nelson, John Dillinger and Pretty Boy Floyd. What sets him apart is that Machine Gun is scared to death of death. Whenever he sees a coffin or another omen of death he starts sweating and shaking like a leaf. Hence the tagline of this film: ‘Without His Gun He Was Naked Yellow!’

The movie starts with a daring robbery. Kelly and his pals rob 41.000 dollars from a local bank. Quite a sum in those days, but Kelly wants more. His hothead behaviour causes friction in the gang, and his relationship with his girlfriend ‘Flo’ is also unstable. When they kidnap the daughter of an oil magnate, things start to go very wrong and Kelly’s downfall draws closer.

This low budget flick is directed by King of the B-movies Roger Corman. Movies about phobic gangsters were popular in the fifties. In 1950 James Cagney played a gangster with a mother complex in White Heat. This film kind of reminds of that one; only it is far from the masterpiece White Heat is. Charles Bronson plays a very cold and unsympathetic character. That makes it hard to care what happens to him. Only worth a look because of the historical aspect. In fact, the story is interesting enough for a remake – by a gifted director. That could definitely work.

Rating:

Quote:
FLORENCE ‘FLO’ BECKER: “You watch it Georgie. Your shadow will scare you to death some time.”

Trivia:
This is Roger Corman’s first gangster movie.