Vice Squad (1953)

When a cop is shot while arresting a car thief, a police captain (Edward G. Robinson) goes into overdrive to find the killer. The car theft is tied into an upcoming bank heist. Based on the novel HARNESS BULL by Leslie T. White and directed by Arnold Laven (THE RACK). First of all, the title is a misnomer. The film has nothing to do with the vice squad. Sure, there's the madam (Paulette Goddard) of a high class call girl service but she's merely there to provide information to the police. That aside, this is a well crafted and gritty policier that's shot on the streets of Los Angeles which gives the movie an edge rather than a studio bound look. The crisp B&W lensing by Joseph Biroc (HUSH HUSH SWEET CHARLOTTE) belies its economical (sounds better than low budget doesn't it?) status. I did have a problem with the unethical methods of Robinson's "the end justifies the means" bulldozing cop. With Lee Van Cleef, Edward Binns, Porter Hall, Joan Vohs, Adam Williams and K.T. Stevens.