Comments on: All Mobbed Up

By: morlockjeff

morlockjeff — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 20:02:21 +0000

Moira,

I just watched THE MOB recently and I don’t think you overstated its appeal. It might be my favorite Crawford performance of all. Great dialogue, genuine suspense and a hilarious closing gag which ties back in with an earlier scene. This is a perfect example of a B movie that’s much more fun and, in some ways, a lot better than an A movie.

By: YancySkancy

YancySkancy — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 23:18:26 +0000

I saw The Mob (as well as Night Unto Night) last December when TCM had a Broderick Crawford day. I wholeheartedly agree with your enthusiasm for it, which doesn’t strike me as overstated at all. Bowers’ adaptation is full of neat twists and his dialogue is packed with zingers. Parrish’s direction is strong and his award-winning editorial skills are in evidence. Crawford and the rest of the cast are excellent. Even the print was great.

I, too, was particularly impressed by the little-known Matt Crowley (but do you realize that your mention of his character’s name constitutes a spoiler?).

By: moira

moira — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 17:33:03 +0000

Aha, Patricia! So, there are others who find themselves won over by the ursine likability of "dear Broderick Crawford". Thanks so much for sharing your confession and for reminding me of his many tv appearances other than his iconic Highway Patrol role. Since Burke's Law has just started to be issued on dvd here in the lower 48, I'll have to check it out. One other appearance by the actor that might bring a smile to your face was in the fitfully hilarious parody, Get Smart. Crawford made an appearance as the title character in a 1969 episode called "The Treasure of C. Errol Madre", with no apologies to B. Traven or John Huston...Btw, at the end of the SNL episode in which Crawford appeared in the '70s, he came out at the end in a bathrobe and slippers and delivered a mumbled and rather wan farewell. While the credits rolled over the music, the castmates, decades younger than the faded star, moved closer to him, hugging him and some even gave him a kiss. Brod, who sometimes seemed to spend many years trying to alienate audiences, looked rather embarrassed, surprised and touched, and, truth to tell, a bit more awake than he had during the show. Yeah, it's tough being cherished.

By: Patricia

Patricia — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 17:00:14 +0000

A few years ago, thanks to TVLand Canada, I became obsessed with
"Burke's Law". Broderick Crawford made a few welcome
appearances on the program. I think my favourite may have been
"Who Killed Snooky Martinelli?" wherein butch Crawford was
interrogated at a salon with his hair(?) in curlers and having a
manicure.I don't think Mr. Crawford intended it that way, but
he does get our affection. My sister and I have been known to
refer to him as "dear Broderick Crawford" when catching each
other up on the TCM schedule.Regarding Jay Adler: I've
come to the conclusion over recent months that the understated Jay may
have ultimately been the most talented of the siblings. Can't
take my eyes off him in "The Big Combo".