''Chicago Syndicate'' is a 1955 American

film noir Film noir (; ) is a style of Cinema of the United States, Hollywood Crime film, crime dramas that emphasizes cynicism (contemporary), cynical attitudes and motivations. The 1940s and 1950s are generally regarded as the "classic period" of Ameri ...

crime film Crime film is a film belonging to the crime fiction genre. Films of this genre generally involve various aspects of crime and fiction. Stylistically, the genre may overlap and combine with many other genres, such as Drama (film and television), dr ...

directed by Fred F. Sears and starring

Dennis O'Keefe Dennis O'Keefe (born Edward Vance Flanagan; March 29, 1908 – August 31, 1968) was an American actor. Early years O'Keefe was born in Fort Madison, Iowa, as Edward Vance Flanagan, the son of Edward J. Flanagan and Charlotte Flanagan ( ...

and

Abbe Lane Abbe Lane (born Abigail Francine Lassman; December 14, 1932) is an American singer and actress. Lane was known in the 1950s and 1960s for her revealing outfits and sultry style of performing. Her first marriage was as the fourth wife of Latin ba ...

Plot

Accountant and war hero Barry Amsterdam is asked by Chicago newspaper editor David Healey and civic leaders to go undercover and infiltrate the crime syndicate of Arnold Valent, who runs a corrupt insurance business. Valent is believed responsible for murdering bookkeeper Nelson Kern, who had gone to the newspaper with proof of the criminal activity. Barry hears how Kern's wife then committed suicide and daughter Joyce was committed to an institution. That and a $60,000 reward convince him to accept the dangerous job. He goes to a nightclub Valent owns, the Maracas, meeting a woman named Sue Morton who helps him gain access. There he meets Valent's girlfriend, singer Connie Peters. He then tells Valent he was a witness to Kern's murder and will go to police unless Valent makes him a better offer. Valent hires but doesn't trust him, at least until Barry, secretly working with the police, arranges a jewel theft and insurance scam. Turning again to Sue Morton for help, she pulls a gun on Barry and orders him to leave. But she learns from police who he really is, Sue works with Barry, revealing she is actually the murdered man's daughter, Joyce Kern. Unable to find some incriminating microfilm, Barry runs out of options until he schemes to make Connie jealous by introducing the other woman to Valent, who makes a play for her. Connie threatens to expose Valent, whose thugs give her a brutal beating. She gets the microfilm to Barry, who is shot and wounded before Valent is killed by the police.

Cast

as Barry Amsterdam *

as Connie Peters * Paul Stewart as Arnold 'Arnie' Valent *

Xavier Cugat Xavier Cugat (; ; 1 January 1900 – 27 October 1990) was an American musician and bandleader who was a leading figure in the spread of Latin music. Originally from Girona, Spain, he spent his formative years in Havana, Cuba, before arriving i ...

as Benny Chico *

Allison Hayes Allison Hayes (born Mary Jane Hayes; March 6, 1930 – February 27, 1977) was an American film and television actress and model. Early life Allison Hayes was born to William E. Hayes and Charlotte Gibson Hayes in Charleston, West Virginia. She ...

as Joyce Kern – alias Sue Morton * Richard H. Cutting as David Healey / Narrator *

Chris Alcaide Chris Alcaide (October 22, 1923 – June 30, 2004) was an American film and television actor. He mostly appeared on western television shows including, ''Gunsmoke'', ''Bonanza'', ''Rawhide'', '' Wanted: Dead or Alive'', '' Trackdown'', '' L ...

as Nate * William Challee as Dolan * John Zaremba as Det. Lt. Robert Fenton * George Brand as Jack Roper *

Hugh Sanders Hugh Sanders (born Howard William Sanders;"California, County Marriages, 1850-1953", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K8D1-6LP : Thu Oct 19 16:41:02 UTC 2023), Entry for Hugh Howard William Sanders and Janet Berenice Pu ...

as Pat Winters *

Mark Hanna Marcus Alonzo Hanna (September 24, 1837 – February 15, 1904) was an American businessman and Republican politician who served as a United States Senator from Ohio as well as chairman of the Republican National Committee. A friend and ...

as Brad Lacey * Carroll McComas as Mrs. Valent

Production

The King Brothers sued Columbia and Clover Productions for damages of $1 million due to their using the title ''Chicago Syndicate'', claiming they registered the title ''The Syndicate'' in 1950.

References

External links

* *
''Chicago Syndicate''
on RetroFlix 1955 films 1955 crime drama films American black-and-white films American crime drama films Columbia Pictures films Film noir Films directed by Fred F. Sears Films set in Chicago 1950s English-language films 1950s American films English-language crime drama films Films produced by Sam Katzman {{1950s-US-drama-film-stub