Underworld U.S.A. (1961)

(On Cable TV, May 2021) There is a roughshod straightforwardness to Underworld U.S.A. that makes it almost irresistible. Within moments — bang, bang, bang, we’re introduced to the hero, the tragic murder of his father and the beginning of his revenge odyssey. Under writer-director-producer Samuel Fuller’s efficient low-budget aesthetics, the sets are nearly as sparse and efficient as the script, and the narrative announces the more violent 1960s by going a little bit further than the muted violence of traditional noir films. As a roaring revenge story, it’s not meant to be complicated, and Cliff Robertson is a solid anchor for a film surprisingly so self-assured in what it’s going for. Even if 1961 is early to call it a neo-noir, Underworld U.S.A. is clearly put together with an awareness of genre clichés and a willingness to play with them. It’s a vigorous, muscular crime film, and part of its charm is to be found in its stripped-down nature, both narrative and visual.