Melvin Purvis G-Man (1974)

For all the hype it got I was expecting a lot more!

Although it has its amusing moments, in eneral the plot does not convince.

This is a must-see and one of the best documentaries - and films - of this year.

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

Right around the time that the carefully built image of the FBI by its former director J. Edgar Hoover was falling apart in those days of Watergate some films recalling the glory days of the FBI were made and made about Melvin Purvis who was known for bringing in and bringing down some of the legendary figures of crime. Dale Robertson plays the title role and his target in this film is George 'Machine Gun' Kelly.As is pointed out in the film and in real life Kelly was really a small time hood who decided to step up in class. His wife and manager Margaret Blye decided to go for some really big bucks and she and the gang they assembled decide to go for kidnapping. Since the Lindbergh baby kidnapping this was a fear among any who had a few dollars in those Depression years. Harris Yulin as Kelly, Blye and the rest break into a swank dinner party and kidnap Thatcher Covington. That name reeks of old money and he's played by Dick Sargent.Sargent and Blye really stand out. Blye is tough and shrewd and she probably married beneath her. Yulin is really nothing without her, he wouldn't know who or where to shoot those choppers if she didn't tell him how.As for Sargent the words rich airhead comes to mind. It's true that in real life Covington would not aid the FBI in their search for the kidnappers unless he was allowed in on the hunt. Truly if the gang had killed he would have been no loss. You have to see a crackling coda scene at the end of the film with him and Blye. Even in custody she really reduces him to the idiot he is.Melvin Purvis G-Man is a good retelling of the Machine Gun Kelly apprehension and Kelly did in fact coin the phrase G-Man to denote the FBI agents.

Although "Melvin Purvis G-MAN" had its premier on television in North America, there's evidence to suggest it played in theaters in other countries. The movie was backed by American-International Pictures, for one thing. And the production values are generally good, with a lot of period detail ranging from clothing to automobiles. But whether seen on television or in theaters, I would guess most viewers at the time were disappointed with the movie. Although the title claims the movie will be a grand look at Melvin Purvis, he is actually in less of the movie than you'd think. At times he's an afterthought. And because of his limited use, we don't get a good exploration of his character. As the title figure, Dale Robertson tries, but even he can't juice up his limited character. There was a sequel made to this movie in the following year, but judging from this movie I'll think I'll give it a pass.

This film was shot in Nicolaus, California. This is about 30 minutes north of Sacramento. They used the Nicolaus Hotel for the big final shot. The town of Nicolaus was used for some of the chase scenes. The building was over 100 years old. It was owned by the Barner family. I watched it being made and as a child I collected the emptied bullet casings, (I still have a few). My best friends were in it at the very start as 2 kids stealing ice from the iceman. Their names were Gerry Barner and Bruce Davidson. Gerry is now a cop for West Sacramento P.D and Bruce is now a cop at UC Davis P.D.Mike Wahl

WARNING! CONTAINS POSSIBLE SPOILERS! Dumb, dumb, dumb. Hollywood takes the story of "Machine Gun Kelly" which could be better described as "The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight; the Depression Years." And decided that reality just wouldn't work. Here is the real story (note: this movie was originally titled The Legend of Machine Gun Kelly). Bumbling farmer George Kelly at the behest of his wife decided to go into a life of crime with an equally incompetent assortment of misfits. They kidnapped a small time businessman, received a small ransom and were promptly tracked down by the FBI and captured with George lying in bed begging "Don't shoot G-Men!" Lengthy prison sentences all around with George dying of a heart attack in prison. The movie however is the story of a great romance, battles against the tyranny of the banks and government, and repeated blazing shootouts. NB There is absolutely not only no evidence Kelly ever killed anyone but none that he ever so much as fired a gun at anyone in his life! Hey Hollywood try the truth! It hurts sometimes but it will set you free!