'G' Men (G-Men) ('G' Men)

Gentlemen, 1949 marks the 25th anniversary...

...of the FBI as it exists today.

Like many another success story, this one had humble beginnings.

The first G-men worked under staggering disadvantages.

Do you realize that not many years ago, a fleeing kidnapper or bank robber...

...could take one step across a state line and thumb his nose at us?

Often when we made an arrest we had to walk...

...into a rain of hoodlum machine-gun fire...

...though we were forbidden by law to carry a revolver.

But, gentlemen, the bureau did have as weapons...

...truth, drive and vitality.

Even before the government armed us with guns and laws...

...G- men became a dreaded underworld whisper.

I'm going to take you back to those days...

...and show you a motion picture about a man named "Brick" Davis.

It's the daddy of all FBI pictures.

It's the first one that called us G-men.

The cars are old, you won't see women wearing the new look...

...but you will see something that the bureau has never forgotten.

That while times change and habits change and styles change...

...one thing is constant:

The man who want to get more out of life than he puts into it...

...the hoodlum...

...he's the same today as he was then.

He is still a public enemy. All right, Vince.

Now, ladies and gentlemen of the jury, you must know what justice can mean...

...to a man who is defenseless because he is poor.

How would you feel if a huge corporation bulldozed you...

...into selling your life's work...

...an invention that has made them millions, and selling it for what?

A paltry $5000.

I ask you, ladies and gentlemen, to look upon my client.

A man who has stood silently at a workbench for years...

...planning, working, striving to create...

- Are you Davis? - Yeah, come in.

Glad to meet you. My name is Joseph Kratz.

- Oh, yes. Sixth Ward. - Oh, you know me, eh?

- Heard of you. Sit down. - Thanks.

Got a good case for you, Davis. One that'll make you a lot of friends if you take it.

That's fine. What do you get out of it?

Me? Nothing. A friend of mine's in jail on a bum rap.

- I want you to defend him. - What'd he do?

Why, he got drunk last night and beat up his old lady.

- His mother? - Yeah.

- Nice fella. - Well, you know how things like that are.

- They book him on assault and battery? - They're gonna hook him on the Sullivan Act.

The sap was carrying a gun and beat her with the butt of it.

- Accidentally? - Yeah, accidental.

But if she kicks off, he's up for murder.

Do you think I'd defend a guy like that?

- Why not? - I'd rather beat his brains out.

I don't want the case, Kratz. It smells.

Now, wait a minute, just a minute, Davis, before you turn this down.

There are a lot of boys around my ward who'll play ball with you if you take it.

You don't want a lawyer, Kratz, you want a crook.

Take your dirty work to somebody else.

Now, don't pull any of that honest lawyer stuff on me.

"Big Shot" McKay didn't pick you out of the gutter...

...and send you through college for nothing.

- Out. - All right, all right.

When you change your mind, let me know.

Call me up. You'll never get anywhere playing shyster for that rat.

Hey!

- Eddie! - Yeah, Eddie.

That's a swell way to treat a customer.

Just a greaseball!

Well, if it isn't old man Department of Justice himself.

- When'd you get here? - Flew up this morning.

- Business? - Yeah.

Sit down. Park yourself.

Well, well. What, no brass button, no badge? What is this?

Nobody has any time to polish them.

Too busy going around with a big badge frightening people.

What a lawyer. A year out of school, you're using the same argument.

And it's still good. What's the use of going to law school...

...if you're gonna throw it over and play cops and robbers.

If you had gone into practice, you'd be at the top now...

...instead of flatfooting around. Law's a great game.

Maybe so. But you sure look funny sitting behind a desk.

I suppose I have to entertain while you're here.

Not for a couple of days. I have an appointment with a chap named Durfee.

- After that, okay. - That's swell.

I'll try to clean up most of my work. I think I can get a whole day off.

Are you getting much business?

Business is terrific. I have to throw half of it out.

What's the use of kidding, Brick?

Kidding?

You ought to keep your law books dusted off.

Old eagle-eye.

- Things are pretty tough, aren't they? - Yeah.

But only because I don't wanna be a shyster.

Which means blackmailing and ambulance chasing.

I've been in too many back alleys as a kid to wanna go back.

You've gotta have a West Side office to get decent business.

And I've got the East Side and...

The elevated.

I wish you were in the department. You'd make a good G-man.

- You starting that again? - Yeah. What's more, you'd like it.

You'd be out seeing some action...

...instead of sitting in a law office getting fat between the ears.

It's a great department, Brick. A great bunch of fellas.

When they tackle a job, they stick to it till it's finished...

...and no fat-faced politician standing around telling them what to do.

I brought a department report along and an application I want you to read.

Now, think it over, mule. I have to shove along. I'll see you Thursday.

All right, Eddie, I'll be here.

- Well, I'm out. - Same here.

- Let you two guys fight it out. - Check.

Well, 200.

- Two more. - You're called.

Ace full.

The guy's right, the gardenia does bring him luck.

This keeps up, I'll believe it.

- Who is it? - Durfee.

Hello, Leggett.

- Hello, fellas. - Hello. What's eating you?

The heat's on me. Will you lend me some dough?

- Dough? You wouldn't try to rib us? - No, on the level.

How about that counterfeit you been printing?

- I haven't got any. - What?

A government guy tailing me for the post-office job wrecked the plant.

- I've gotta get across the state line. - Tough break.

- Okay, Dan? - Yeah.

- Let us know when you're light. - Thanks.

- I'll pay you back, double. So long. - Don't forget that.

- No, I won't. - Deal me out.

It's a tough break.

He ought to get himself an arsenal and stick around.

Why, those government guys don't even carry rods.

You're under arrest, Durfee.

Kill the lights.

Give me a reacher.

- What's the matter? - Copper's got him.

Louie.

- How are you, Mr. Davis? - Is Mr. McKay in?

- He's in his office, sir. - Thank you.

Yeah, come in.

Oh, hello, Brick.

- Busy, Mac? - No, come on in.

Well, sit down.

- Have a cigar? - No, thanks.

Where have you been keeping yourself?

I've been sticking pretty close to the office.

- Much business? - No, no.

Well, come on, kid, spill it. What's on your chest?

- I wanna talk some things over with you. - Go ahead, shoot.

Tell me, Mac, how much did you spend on me?

- I mean, education and everything? - About 20 grand. Why?

That's an awful lot of dough.

Chicken feed when you like a guy.

Was that the only reason?

Well, maybe I wanted to see a kid that had the same start in life that I had...

...make a real success.

Haven't had much success.

Nobody gets ahead fast when they play the game on the level.

- That's the way you want me to play it? - That's the only way to play it.

I been in rackets all my life, Brick. They don't pay off. Except in dough.

Well, Mac, it looks like I'm gonna cross you.

- You wouldn't turn crook? - No, no.

But I am giving up the law business. I've tried to make a go of it, but it's no use.

Guess I wasn't cut out to warm a desk chair.

Well, maybe that's right. What are you gonna do?

I've joined the Department of Justice.

They accepted my application yesterday.

How'd you happen to do this?

Buchanan.

I got you.

They want you in Washington.

Yeah, I'm leaving tomorrow morning.

That puts me on the other side of the fence from you.

That's where you ought to be.

But they're out to get you. You and everybody else in your racket.

If they assign me to go after you, I've gotta use everything I know.

You got to play ball with them, Brick.

Go to it.

Now, Mac...

You won't get me, Brick. I'm going to quit.

I've been thinking about it for a long time.

But what about Collins and Leggett and all the rest? Will they let you quit?

They still take orders from me whether they know it or not.

- Hi, Louie. - Gentlemen. Hi, boys.

Hi, Ruby.

Yeah, you can put them both on one.

- May I check your hat, sir? - No, thanks.

- Want a drink? - No, thanks.

- Come on, hurry up. - Okay.

- Are you ready, Jean? - Okay.

- Hello, Brad. - How are you, Louise?

Hello, baby, how are you?

- Busy. Ever think of knocking? - I never knock.

It does save getting splinters in your knuckles.

- Someday someone's gonna knock you flat. - What are you doing tonight?

- I think I've got a date. - With me?

- Nope. Brick Davis. - Oh, is he here?

Yes.

- See you sometime. - So long, Mac.

Don't hit any foul balls.

I'll try not to.

How are you?

- I heard something about you, lawyer. - You did? What?