Chicago Syndicate Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.5
Audio		5.0
Extras		3.5
Overall		4.0

Chicago Syndicate Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov September 18, 2021

Fred F. Sears' "Chicago Syndicate" (1955) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Indicator/Powerhouse Films. The supplemental features on the disc include audio commentary by critic Toby Roan, vintage promotional materials for the film, and more. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-B "locked".

The new accountant

FBI agents ask ambitious but broke accountant Barry Amsterdam (Dennis O’Keefe) to help them frame the Syndicate’s top man in the Windy City, Arnie Valent (Paul Stewart). If Amsterdam agrees to do the job, he will be paid $60,000, a mighty impressive sum of money for anyone making ends meet on a government salary. If Amsterdam refuses, he will remain a dreamer for the rest of his days.

The plan is to have Amsterdam befriend Valent, earn his trust, and then replace his former accountant, who has just been executed in the Loop for trying to hand the FBI financial records that would have placed his boss behind bars. It is a tall order, but a few days later Amsterdam walks into Valent’s favorite night club and ‘accidentally’ reveals that he knows who offed his accountant. The news immediately reaches Valent and shortly after his goons ‘invite’ Amsterdam to meet him for a drink. During the meeting, Amsterdam announces that he used the murder of the accountant only as a pretext to get a chance to apply for his job. The straightforward talk impresses Valent and he decides to test Amsterdam at an insurance company that he unofficially runs through a trusted associate. When Amsterdam passes the test, Valent welcomes him in his organization and then asks him to take over the dead accountant’s duties.

While spending time with Valent and learning about his business activities, Amsterdam befriends Sue Morton (Allison Hayes), a single beauty who can’t stop gambling. They begin seeing each other, but Morton also makes an impression on Valent and at the right time Amsterdam is asked to share her. The unexpected development angers Valent’s jealous mistress, Connie Peters (Abbe Lane), who sings at his favorite night club, and Morton instantly becomes her greatest nemesis. Valent then announces that he has had enough of Peters’ drama and is through with her, but the girl fights back to reclaim him and threatens to bring him down if he does not change his mind. In the ensuing chaos, Amsterdam gains access to Valent’s private financial records and discovers an unlikely partner who has been secretly working to take down the powerful gangster as well.

Fred F. Sears’ Chicago Syndicate is a fine time capsule but a fairly predictable crime drama. However, this isn’t to imply that it is in any way an underwhelming film. Rather, it is to clarify that Sears likely did the best he could with the modest budget he was obviously given to work with.

The most impressive material features footage from the Loop and the surrounding working-class neighborhoods where Valent’s clueless mother lives. There is some fine footage from the glitzy night club where Valent’s mistress sings as well, but what Sears does with it has been done in countless other films about powerful gangsters, seductive femme fatales, and cops doing their best to right various wrongs. Needless to say, it is easily forgettable.

While the progression of the drama is quite straightforward, and the resolutions of the main conflicts entirely predictable, there is a lot to like because Amsterdam behaves exactly like a man in his shoes would. Indeed, he is determined to do the risky job because he needs the money, and while constantly switching personalities before Valent and his FBI employers, it definitely looks like he does his best not to screw up. The sincerity of his dedication and efforts give the film its street credibility, which is what ultimately makes it attractive. (For what it’s worth, the lack of identical or similar street credibility is precisely the reason why the IRS agent Glenn Ford plays in The Undercover Man and the situations he is pushed in look phony. This film was a much bigger project and needed to deliver its messages in an appropriately bigger way, with its stars very much acting like movie stars).

Sears' unwillingness to ramp up the abuse and violence before the camera is a bit surprising. The Windy City and its gangsters had a very bad reputation for a reason, so it is highly unlikely that a big-timer like Valent would have tolerated being played by people that were allowed in his orbit. Everyone, including his closest business associates and mistresses, would have been considered dispensable and quickly dealt with to avoid precisely the type of drama that is chronicled in Sears' film.

Chicago Syndicate Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in an aspect ratio of 1.85:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Chicago Syndicate arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Indicator/Powerhouse Films.

Chicago Syndicate was remastered by Sony Pictures quite some time ago, but looks terrific in high-definition. Indeed, excluding less than optimal density levels and to a lesser extent fluidity, I think that the film looks as good as it can. Delineation and depth for instance range from very good to excellent, while clarity is consistently pleasing. (Even the stock footage with Al Capone and some key locations from the Loop looks great). Darker areas reveal plenty of fine nuances as well, so black crush is definitely not an issue on this remaster. As noted above, grain can be a bit loose, but it is still nicely exposed and healthy, so even on a very large screen the visuals have a very stable organic appearance. Image stability is excellent. There are no distracting large debris, cuts, marks, warped or torn frames to report. My score is 4.75/5.00. (Note: This is a Region-B "locked" Blu-ray release. Therefore, you must have a native Region-B or Region-Free player in order to access its content).

Chicago Syndicate Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There is only one standard audio track on this Blu-ray release: English LPCM 1.0. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature.

I did not encounter any troubling age-related imperfections to report in our review. I viewed the film during the day and was able to turn up the volume quite a bit, so everything sounded great on my system. The dialog was stable, clear, and easy to follow. The film does not have a prominent soundtrack, so the only notable music is from the night club where Valent's gal performs.

Chicago Syndicate Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Image Gallery - a collection of original promotional materials for Chicago Syndicate.

• Commentary - critic Toby Roan, who usually records commentaries for various westerns that are part of Kino Lorber's catalog, offers a wealth of information about the production of Chicago Syndicate, the various locations that are seen in the film, the stars and their careers, etc. I really liked this commentary and hope that Mr. Roan will be asked to do more for other releases of film noirs.

• From Nurse to Worse (1940) - a short film featuring the three stooges. Directed and produced by Jules White. Fully remastered. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles. (17 min).

• Book - a limited edition exclusive 120-page book with new essays by Beth Ann Gallagher, Bob Herzberg, Sophie Monks Kaufman, Omar Ahmed, Jen Johans, and Monica Castillo, archival articles and interviews, and film credits.

Chicago Syndicate Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

By classic film noir standards, Chicago Syndicate is most definitely a small film, plus it is quite predictable. However, I think that it works well because Dennis O'Keefe does not attempt to be a star in it. His character is simply an ordinary outsider that rolls the dice and tries to do the best of the situations he gets stuck in. Also, the film has some great footage from old Chicago. This upcoming release is sourced from a very solid remaster that was prepared by Sony Pictures and features a terrific audio commentary by critic Toby Roan. It is included in Indicator/Powerhouse Films' upcoming Columbia Noir #4 box set, which streets later this month. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.