This movie made for the small screen represents the quintessence of what I love the most in the film noir. Even if it's not the authentic definition that other movie buffs may give to it. I don't care. This feature was aired on a french channel during the late seventies, but I missed it. I only knew the novel written by Richard Johnson, an ex con like Eddy Bunker. Novels speaking of brutality, violence and total despair for every one, and where only the most ruthless guys survive. So this movie is fairly faithful to the original. A fierce story for a hopeless atmosphere where you don't have to expect any happy endings. What can I say to describe the Telly Savalas or Joe Don Baker's performances? I can't find words strong enough to tell you. Outstanding, fabulous, awesome... I will never forget one of the last scene, where (SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS) the Joe Don Baker's character - Mongo - dies standing still under the rain. Read the other comment too, it's better than mine. Pure hopeless seventies style, the kind of movies I have always loved and always will.

I saw this TV movie a while ago, but never forgot it. Why ? Probably because it was a hard boiled, mean, violent and dark "film noir", in the "Charley Varrick" mood, and because the hero (Mongo) was a brutal hit man seeking revenge on his brother, beating his girl friend (sweet young Sally Field) and died alone, standing in the pouring rain. Joe DOn Baker is absolutely great in this part, really tough, not even with a golden heart. His encounter with a blind man when he arrives in town is quite shocking. Telly Savalas played a Kojak-like cop, his sidekick was a very young Martin Sheen (in his James Dean days) and Anne Francis was perfect as always as the girl who left one brother for the other. I wonder why this marvelous film never showed up on video, especially on DVD. It deserves a cult status.