Bargain with Bullets
Cast & Crew
Harry Fraser
Ralph Cooper
Theresa Harris
Edward Thompson
Francis Turham
Lawrence Criner
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
When Harlem gangster Ed "Mugsy" Moore kills a watchman during a robbery at Zemanski's Fur Loft, he is reprimanded by Bill Pierce, the bail-bond broker who promised to fence the stolen furs. Pierce then suggests that Mugsy go into hiding for awhile. Mugsy's moll, Kay Latour, is proud of the gangster when he he threatens to kill Pierce for refusing to purchase the stolen furs from him. Meanwhile, Police Captain Holmes, who is under pressure from the commissioner to solve the case, assigns Lieutenant Lester to investigate the robbery. When Mugsy encounters a childhood friend, singer Grace Foster, she reminds him that he wanted to become a doctor when he was young and that they were meant to be sweethearts. Grace, however, soon realizes that she has lost Mugsy to Kay when she learns that he is a gangster. As the police investigation progresses, Holmes begins to suspect Mugsy, whom he knows cannot afford Kay's expensive tastes. One evening, as Mugsy is about to take Kay to a nightclub, he gets a telephone call from one his men, Dave Ellis, who tips him off to another fur heist opportunity. Mugsy immediately cancels his plans with Kay and rushes to meet with his gang. The robbery, which is handled by Mugsy's men, takes place the following morning, while Mugsy meets with Grace. When Lester is informed of the heist, he immediately suspects Mugsy, but an officer trailing the gangster attests to the fact that Mugsy was with Grace at the time the crime was committed. Later, Mugsy and Charlie Bayley, one of his men, kill Dave shortly after he is interrogated by the police. Mugsy then kills Charlie for suggesting that they take a trip to Chicago. Lester goes to Kay's apartment hoping to find Mugsy, but Mugsy sees the police there and waits until they leave before he enters. After telling Kay that he is going to his hideout near Albany for a month, Mugsy leaves. Meanwhile, a ballistics expert at the police department discovers that the gun that was used to kill both the watchman and Charlie belongs to Mugsy. After interrogating Grace, Holmes brings in Kay for questioning and she tells him where Mugsy is hiding when the captain offers her money. After putting out a fake radio broadcast to fool Mugsy into thinking that he is safe in Albany, the police descend on his hideout and arrest him. Sometime later, Kay and her new boyfriend are listening to radio as a news bulletin announces Mugsy's execution in the electric chair.
Director
Harry Fraser
Cast
Ralph Cooper
Theresa Harris
Edward Thompson
Francis Turham
Lawrence Criner
Sam Mcdaniel
Clarence Brooks
Reginald Fenderson
John Lester Johnson
Billy Mcclain
Al Duval
Elmer Fain
Ray Martin
Les Hite
Cotton Club Orchestra
Eddie Barfield's Trio
Covan Studio Dancers
Crew
Film Details
Technical Specs
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
Bargain with Bullets. was re-released in 1945 under the title Gangsters on the Loose. At the time of this film's release, Million Dollar Productions had announced its intentions to produce ten black-cast pictures annually, primarily for black audiences. According to modern sources, the screen story was authored by Phil Dunham and Ralph Cooper, with Cooper also directing, and the cast included Milton Shockley (Doc), Art Murray (Tom) and Halley Harding (Halley). In addition, modern sources note that the picture was the first independently produced black-cast film purchased by Loew's theater chain for exhibition in two of their smaller theaters. According to the file for the film in the MPAA/PCA Collection at the AMPAS Library, in June 1937, the PCA rejected the story "in toto," citing gangster themes, detailed crimes, offensive sex in the "character and conduct of Kay" and undue glorification of the character "Mugsy" as the basis for its decision. The PCA objected to other details of the story, including the suggestion that "Kay" is being kept by "Mugsy"; the "bumping off" of "Doc"; the cold-blooded killing of three men by "Mugsy"; the suggestion of an electric chair; and the final scene, in which "Mugsy's" execution is juxtaposed with "Kay" continuing her "questionable career." In September 1937, the PCA reviewed the film and denied it certification for various reasons, but primarily because it showed "American gangsters armed and in violent conflict with the law." A number of scenes were cut from the film following the PCA preview, and in October 1937, the film was granted certification.
