The Human Jungle

“We’re at war, and people may love soldiers, but they don’t love cops.” The balance between effective law enforcement and excessive force is treated deftly in Joseph M. Newman’s The Human Jungle, which stars Gary Merrill as John Danforth, a soon-to-be-lawyer who is persuaded by police chief Abe Rowan (Emile Meyer) to take over as captain of the “toughest precinct in the city.” Assisted by Detective Bob Geddes (Regis Toomey), Danforth uses an iron first to attack rampant juvenile delinquency and violent crime, stirring up even greater controversy when Detective Strauss (Pat Waltz) accidentally shoots and kills an innocent bystander. When Danforth’s investigation into the murder of a stripper-prostitute is unfruitful and draws critical headlines, he persuades another stripper, Mary Abbott (the always fantastic Jan Sterling), to turn state’s evidence on the primary suspect, hoodlum Earl Swados (Chuck Connors). Paula Raymond plays a barely ornamental role as Dan’s wife Pat, but Florenz Ames steals every scene he’s in as creepy, fey, philosophical mob boss Leonard Ustick (“Everyone has a weakness. Find it and you’re rich”). The action moves from the police station to the streets of an unnamed city to a bowling alley to an elaborate Pabst brewery through which Mary is forced to run for her life.