The Mob-1951-The brutality of both the criminals and the police is what gives the film its shock value and special feel

The Mob is a rehash of several gangster thrillers inspired by the crackdown on organized crime following World War II. What distinguishes The Mob from these other films is its depiction of the ruthless hard-boiled character of both the police and the criminals



Familiar gang-busting stuff set in On the Waterfront territory, with Crawford as a cop who, inadvertently goofing on duty, is officially reported as suspended and sent undercover to make good the damage by finding out who is masterminding the brutal extortion racket among longshoremen. William Bowers' script manages one or two genuine surprises - with Crawford at one point being hired to eliminate himself - but its main contribution is a nice line in sharp, waywardly witty dialogue. Given fast, flexible direction by Parrish, excellent camerawork (Joseph Walker) and a full house of vivid performances , the result is an unusually tense and enjoyable genre piece