Shot on the streets of East Harlem, Frankenheimer’s juvenile delinquency movie has Burt Lancaster’s honest, hard-working Assistant DA Hank Bell caught between two street gangs – the Thunderbirds and the Horsemen – while seeking justice for Roberto Escalante, a blind member of the Horsemen who is murdered in broad daylight by Italian punks Danny (Stanley Kristien), Arthur (John Davis Chandler), and “Batman” (Neil Nephew).
Hank discovers that Danny is the son of his old neighbourhood flame Mary diPace (Shelley Winters).
Features Puerto Rican gang members dressed like The Specials restyled by The Cramps, and the delightful cynicism of Telly Savalas (making his film debut as a cop).
The gang fight scenes, acting and camera work are brilliant, although the plot is questionable.
Hank Bell
Burt Lancaster
Karin Bell
Dina Merrill
R. Daniel Cole
Edward Andrews
Mrs Escalante
Vivian Nathan
Mary DiPace
Shelley Winters
Randolph
Larry Gates
Detective Lt. Gunderson
Telly Savalas
Louisa Escalante
Pilar Seurat
Angela Rugiello
Jody Fair
Jenny Bell
Roberta Shore
Dr Walsh
Milton Selzer
Judge
Robert Burton
Barton
David J. Stewart
Danny DiPace
Stanley Kristien
Arthur Reardon
John Davis Chandler
Anthony “Batman” Aposto
Neil Nephew
Director
John Frankenheimer