by Hal Erickson
synopsis
Director Harold D. Schuster, heretofore more at home with "outdoor" fare, does a nice job with the film noir trappings of Finger Man. Frank Lovejoy plays the title character, a career criminal named Casey Martin. In exchange for immunity from prosecution, Martin agrees to help the Feds net a larger fish--namely, big-time mobster Dutch Becker (Forrest Tucker). Torn between the two men is good-time girl Gladys Baker (Peggie Castle). The moment she casts her lot with Martin, Gladys seals both her doom and Becker's. Finger Man is stolen hands-down by the saturnine Timothy Carey as Becker's wacko triggerman (reportedly, Carey was nearly punched out by Frank Lovejoy when the latter caught on he was being upstaged).
characteristics
- Dishonor Among Thieves
- Skyjacking
- Mob
- Maniac
- Smuggler
- Snitch
- Yakuza
- Whiskey
- Mafia
- Smuggling
- Informer
- Ex-convict
- Bad-guy
- Alcoholism
- Gang