The Big Operator

I'll give Mickey Rooney credit for not completely overacting in this crime drama where he's a union boss loosely based on Jimmy Hoffa using criminal methods when his efforts to control others gets out of control. Pleading the fifth in the most arrogant of ways, he's able to avoid prison for contempt of court and resorts to kidnapping and torture of the rebellious Steve Cochran and later son Jay North in order to get Cochran to testify on his behalf. Not a fan of Rooney's later dramatic parts outside of a mere few, I expected him to play another sneering, spitting bully, and while he's a bully of the highest degree, he manages to give a varied performance even though he obviously seems to be acting the part rather than being it. Mamie Van Doren is Cochran's wife, and highly resembles Marilyn Monroe (more than Jayne Mansfield ever did), but is a decent actress even though a blonde bombshell housewife and mother is a rather odd sight in a film like this. I'll admit that I expected to not give this a favorable review, but was immediately drawn in by the jazzy musical score and gritty setup. Rooney's men are more believable than him, but the way he says the above quote in regards to the man set aflame did have me in chills. Jim Backus is completely serious as a representative of the D. A.'s office, and Ray Danton, Mel Torme, Charlie Chaplin Jr. And Jackie Coogan are effective in support. Vampira is very funny in a cameo as a pretentious cafe owner whose juke box plays only opera. Intense and nail-biting towards the end, so I have to declare that I liked it enough to mark it as "good".

This film essentially begins with a mob boss by the name of "Joe Braun" (Mickey Rooney) being questioned at a Senate committee concerning certain illegal activities he has committed as the head of a labor union. Being mindful of his Constitutional rights about self-incrimination, he refuses to answer almost all of the questions directed to him. Although quite frustrated with his refusal to answer these questions, the senators then call upon an expert witness who can attest to some of his crimes. The problem, however, is that the witness they are relying upon was abducted and killed the night before on the orders of Joe Bruan. That being the case, their ability to acquire any proof against him is greatly diminished and the hearing is subsequently adjourned. Even so, having just been spotted talking to an underworld hitman named "Oscar Wetzel" (Ray Danton), Joe Braun becomes concerned that these two new witnesses by the name of "Bill Gibson" (Steve Cochran) and "Fred McAfee" (Mel Torme) might also testify against him. So, to ensure that doesn't happen, Joe Braun devises a plan to employ them directly under his supervision. However, when both of them refuse, he reverts to other methods which, he believes, will be much more persuasive. Now, rather than reveal any more, I will just say that this was a pretty good crime-drama which, undoubtably, capitalized on several instances involving organized crime and labor unions during this particular time in American history. I especially liked the performance of Mickey Rooney who, although quite small in stature, did an excellent job as a ruthless crime boss. And even though the ending was a bit too unrealistic, I still enjoyed this film for the most part, and I have rated it accordingly. Slightly above average.

Moviecut—The Big Operator

source: The Big Operator

Mickey Rooney generally not one of my fave actors is utterly riveting as the cocky, vicious corrupt union boss. Great storyline a film where you don't even want to blink & miss what the hell's gonna happen next. Tho in a non speaking role Ray Danton is chilling as a hitman he leaves you in no doubt he's a psycho that kills for kicks. The following year he played the title role in the excellent Rise & Fall of Legs Diamond & was superb in that. A very underrated movie well worth seeing.

At five feet two inches, Mickey Rooney must have been Hollywood's smallest big operator. The words arrogant, deceitful and bigoted barely scratch the surface of this thoroughly odious character, immersed to the eyeballs in union corruption, underhand dealings and with a misguided view that anyone can be bought at the right price or, if necessary, with sufficient muscle, but not his! He receives a mixed reception in addressing a blue collar meeting with a bumptious delivery of bad jokes and even worse puns, but his mood changes upon recognizing two individuals (Steve Cochran and Mel Torme), who could potentially identify him for his tawdry activities. In attempting to buy them off, Rooney encounters two insurmountable and previously alien obstacles: decency and integrity. Cochran, the diligent salt of the earth, family man, coolly dismisses him, whilst the more animated, vocal Torme sees red, (years before Zaz turned blue). Rooney's escalating exasperation with each must have driven his blood pressure off the scale, but at least the script writers offered some clemency, lightening his load, by allowing him to repeat the line, "I refuse to answer that question on the grounds of the Fifth Amendment" ad nauseam. Kidnapping, torture, bullying picketts, the constant sense of threat, which results in Torme being burned on the same day he narrowly avoided being fired. This 'I'm Alright Jack' without the laughs turns surprisingly brutal, orchestrated by the mob heavy, safety in numbers clan, but curiously offset by an extravagant punch-up, rooted as much in comedy western as film noir. Not exceptional, but a solid, grounded engaging statement on some of the salient issues of the time. Ultimately projecting an ethos of resisting violence and villainy every bit as pertinent today.

I loved this picture, The Big Operator, because it reminded me of the pictures I went to see as a young teenager in the late 50's. I remember seeing Steve Cochran in I Mobster at the time and really liked him. He's the good union man in The Big Operator, married to Mamie Van Doren, when he's approached to lie on the witness stand against the corrupt union boss played by the diminutive Mickey Rooney. Rooney, who is terrific, if not slightly over playing his James Cagney style Mr Nasty, has kidnapped Cochran's kid, played by Jay North. He's holding the kid in order to blackmail Cochran into retracting his evidence against Rooney. Ray Danton, Jim Backus, Jackie Coogan and Mel Torme are along for the ride as well as some other famous characters in smaller parts. Torme, or the velvet fog, is surprisingly effective as Cochran's tough little pal. For a world class jazz singer, he's a surprisingly good actor too. The underrated Leo Gordon is on hand for the really brutal stuff and he should have made it much bigger on screen as he was an actor at the time in a similar vein to Charles Bronson. I believe he was also a successful writer for movies. The ending is a bit far fetched but this little B movie gripped me from beginning to end and Rooney and Cochran are worth the entrance fee.

This is a great Film Noir crime thriller with the most fantastic cast: Mickey Rooney, Steve Cochran, Mamie Van Doren, Mel Tormé, Ray Danton, Jim Backus, Jackie Coogan, Charles Chaplin Jr., Maila (Vampira!) Nurmi, Jay North, Leo Gordon and Don 'Red' Barry. (The real old time-movie fans will recognize all these names.) This is a little known, obscure, film noir crime story from the tail end of the 1950s, loosely based on Jimmy Hoffa. Mickey Rooney does a totally believable job chewing up the scenery as a ruthless, corrupt union boss. Jay North, just months away from starting his run as Dennis The Menace on TV, gives a very believable performance as a typical suburban little boy who gets kidnapped and held ransom by the criminals out to control the unions. I was so surprised at how good Jay was at a dramatic role, yet he still infuses it with his natural good natured joyfulness that makes him so lovable. This kid is far tougher and more resilient than we ever knew before! *(Note that Jay has his natural brown hair color in this.) If you like old black and white crime noir 'B' movies, this is a great one! Great music too. I give it a 9 out of 10 stars.

This is is a ridiculous attempt at a mob film.Who can take Mickey Rooney seriously as the union boss.At 5 feet nothing he is towered over by all of his mob.Nor does he have the presence of a Lee J Cobb.He chews on a cigar and shouts his line.It doesn't work and undermines the whole film.

Mickey Rooney is the corrupt, fast-talking, deal-making head of the Union, up against a congressional investigation. He takes the Fifth when answering every question. When union member Mel Torme gets torched in front of his home, pal Steve Cochran is ready to testify, but Rooney kidnaps his son, has his enforcers beat up Cochran, and tell him that if he recasts on the witness chair, he'll see his son again. Charles Haas is in charge of this tough movie, and his actors are cast against type and perform beautifully. Not only is Rooney terrific, but Mamie van Doren is very good, Torme is terrific, and performers like Charles Chaplin Junior and Jackie Coogan - he's a corrupt lawyer - demonstrate that good actors are good actors. The movie turns a bit conventional in the end, and Van Alexander's blaring jazz score sometimes obscures what's going on, but this is a tough movie.