Pay or Die

This well-made "B" movie about the early days of the American Mafia allows Borgnine--in this real-life role of Mafia-buster Joe Petrosino--to combine his dangerous tough guy with his sensitive "Marty" side, giving him considerable range. Good early 1900's Italian street atmosphere, and a moving performance by Zohra Lampert as Ernie's love interest. She is (for once on film) allowed to be beautiful, and her scenes with Borgnine are intense and moving.

This is what I love about Allied Artists pictures -- B-movie fare embellished with A-movie budgets. The acting and direction are consistently strong if workmanlike, but this excels due to an edgy realism that seems surprising for its era. Ernest Borgnine's "I no speaka the good English" routine wears thin after a while, but that's the only real knock against it. Also, Borgnine assembles a crack team of Italian cops and refers to them as his "guinea pigs." I lol'd.