Cry Tough ** (1959, John Saxon, Linda Cristal, Joseph Calleia) – Classic Movie Review 10,588

‘Battle Cry of New York’s West Side Jungle!’

The 22-year-old John Saxon has the striking main role as Miguel Estrada, a Puerto Rican former convict tempted back to a life of crime, in debut director Paul Stanley’s 1959 crime drama Cry Tough, a modest and moderately successful United Artists movie about Fifties juvenile delinquents.

The writer is the film’s producer Harry Kleiner, basing his screenplay on Irving Shulman’s novel, though the Jewish Brooklyn gang of the novel has become a Puerto Rican gang in Spanish Harlem. It is well shot in film noir style by Irving Glassberg and Philip H Lathrop. There are no particular surprises or very special merits but it is flavoursome and reasonably slick and compelling, with the striking appearances of the two leads Saxon and Linda Cristal as Sarita, and the equally striking visuals.

The young Saxon’s career was going well. It was one of several juvenile delinquent-themed movies he made. It was the first under a three-picture deal he signed with Hecht-Hill-Lancaster.

Also in the cast are Linda Cristal as Sarita, Joseph Calleia as Señor Estrada, Harry Townes as Carlos Mendoza, Don Gordon as Incho, Perry Lopez as Toro, Frank Puglia as Lavandero, Penny Santon as Señora Estrada, Joe De Santis, BarBara Luna, Arthur Batanides, and Paul Clarke.

Cry Tough runs 83 minutes, is made by Canon Productions, is released by United Artists, is shot in black and white by Irving Glassberg and Philip H Lathrop, and is scored by Laurindo Almeida.

RIP John Saxon, who died on 25 July 2020, aged 83. He started his career in uncredited bit parts in 1954: Boy Watching Argument in Park in It Should Happen to You and Movie Premiere Usher in A Star Is Born.

© Derek Winnert 2020 Classic Movie Review 10,588

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