Original subtitles

Universal presents "Gang Busters."

Calling the police. Calling the G-Men.

Calling all Americans to war on the underworld.

"Gang Busters," with the cooperation

of law enforcement officers of the United States,

presents a picture of the endless war

of the police on the underworld,

illustrating the clever operation

of law enforcement officers in the work

of protecting our citizens.

The all-American crusade against crime.

Call for an ambulance, Tim. They just shot McLeod.

Car 39 calling headquarters.

Car Three Nine calling headquarters.

Bannister calling. Send riot squad to Fourth and Centre.

Department store hold-up. That is all.

Call a squad car, Tim. I'll hold 'em off.

I tell you, as mayor of the city, I'm getting panicky.

I get a hundred messages a day from people demanding that...

How can you sit there so calm and unconcerned

in the face of the reign of terror around us?

Can't you do something about it?

Do you think I'd accomplish more by waving my arms

and yelling the way you're doing?

I suppose not, but I'll say this, that I'm getting

pretty tired of your continual excuses for failure.

I expected results from this department,

and I'm not getting them.

You're not suggesting, by any chance,

that my resignation might be in order, are you?

You know better than that, Martin.

But I do wish you'd pull Bannister off the investigation.

Why?

Well, it doesn't look good,

his having a brother that was convicted of a gang murder.

We've submitted proof that the boy was framed.

The governor's turning him loose.

He'll be back tomorrow.

I know, but it still looks bad. People are talking.

Let them talk.

Bill Bannister is better qualified than any man we've got.

Yeah?

Bannister is here to see you.

Send him in.

Good morning, Mayor Hansen.

Morning.

You sent for me, Chief?

Mayor Hansen is not satisfied

with our progress against the crime wave.

Neither are we.

Then why don't you do something about it?

Because we're up against a gang we can't even figure out.

You see, there's no relation

between the crimes they commit.

First, they rob a bank, obviously for the loot.

Then they blow up an office building or kill some poor,

harmless citizen without even taking his watch.

They act like madmen.

That's simple.

Probably the work of two or three different gangs.

Well, that's the conclusion we've reached.

But since then we find that--

Yeah?

Miss Logan and Mr. Haskins

of the Journal to see you, sir.

Tell them to go away. They bother me.

What is it?

This is Vicki Logan speaking.

I'm busy. Besides, I don't like reporters.

Oh, you'll like us

because we have a hot lead on your crime wave.

Well, what are you keeping it out there for?

Why don't you bring it in here?

Ah, men at work.

Morning, all. Morning Mr. Bill.

What do you hear from the mob?

That supposed to be funny?

What about that clue? Or was that a stall to get in here?

No, I think we've got something.

It was left at the ad desk.

What is it?

Copy for a want ad and a $20 bill

to pay for running it in the afternoon editions.

The boss didn't want to run it without your okay.

We may want to check fingerprints.

Attention all citizens, if you want to know the truth

about the crime wave in this city,

tune in your short-wave sets to the police wavelength

tonight at 9:00.

Well, what does it mean?

Could be some practical joker with an amateur sending set.

As a rule, practical jokers don't toss $20 bills

around like that.

Sounds like some harmless crank to me,

but we'll check it for prints just the same.

I'm afraid it's been handled too much,

but we'll try the other side.

Oh, now we've got something.

You didn't really expect me

to leave my fingerprints on this, did you?

Signed, Professor Mortis.

That's not the work of a crank. They're too dumb.

Professor Mortis. Any of you ever hear of him?

Probably an assumed name.

Mortis. That's Latin for death, isn't it?

Professor death. Pleasant thought.

Tell your editor to run the ad.

What's the idea of running the ad?

Be at my office at 9:00 tonight. We'll show you.

What's this all about?

Each marker represents a police car

in various parts of the city.

Each car determines the direction of the radio beam

from its post and phones it into us.

We trace out the lines on our map to where they meet,

and that's the location of the sending station.

Take it up a couple, Pete.

Right.

That's good.

Now when the broadcast starts,

I'll swing the car around slowly.

You stop me at the point where you can hear it the clearest.

Well, it's after 9:00, and nothing's happened.

You can waste your evenings here if you want to,

but I'm going out.

Fellow citizens, you are listening to the voice of death.

A pleasant thought, is it not?

I believe you are alarmed at the spread

of a reign of terror in your city.

I am the cause of that.

I and the League of Murdered Men,

dead men returned from our graves

to take revenge on those who sent us there.

You can stop us. Oh yes.

But only by getting rid of the authors of our wrongs,

your present city government, the mayor,

judges, police department, everyone.

Until they are thrown from office,

no man's life will be safe in this city.

Good night and pleasant dreams.

Let's see that compass. South, 14 degrees west.

Car 27? Right.

I got ya.

Course south, 14 degrees west.

Nolan talking.

For this car, the course of the beam

is north, four degrees east.

Right. Car 64, two degrees south of east.

Nolan talking. Car 39 north, four degrees east, right.

400 block, Front Street.

Officer, that's where that message came from.

Scatter a squad around that block

and search every room and basement in it.

Tim and I will go on ahead.

Well, what are you waiting for? An invitation?

It's the next block, Tim. Better slow down.

How about turn down this side street?

Good idea.

Isn't that a prowl car ahead?

Yeah, with the lights turned out.

Pull up, Tim. We'll have a look.

What are you doing here, Martin?

Hey, wake up.

Is he dead?

No, but he seems to be pretty badly hurt.

Craig was knocked out too.

This note was pinned to his coat.

Thanks for the use of your radio, Professor Mortis.

Hey, I don't get this.

It means he used one of our cars to broadcast his warning.

Tim, you better get these men to an emergency hospital

- as soon as you can. - Right.

Say, Bill, I wonder if this is the same gang

your brother was mixed up with.

- No. - Well, how do you know?

He was convicted of a gang killing, wasn't he?

He was framed, and I've run down the hoodlums who did it.

The governor is turning the kid loose.

Gee, I'm glad. When's he coming back?

Tomorrow morning under police escort.

He's got some inside dope on this crime wave,

something he picked up when he was on death row.

Oh boy, what a story.

Listen, if you print a word of that before I tell you to,

I'll have you pinched for obstructing justice.

Oh, well yeah.

But, Bill, we got to have something to work on.

If this story gets out before we nab that gang,

my brother's life won't be worth a dime.

Okay, but we get first crack at it when it breaks.

It's a deal.

Extra, extra! Professor Death broadcasts a warning!

Extra, extra! Professor Death broadcasts a warning!

Extra, extra, read all about it! Extra!

There's no answer, Mr. Grubb. And thank you.

Yes, sir.

Your broadcast certainly got rave notices

from the critics last night.

Why not? It was perfectly planned and perfectly executed.

Bannister's brother is returning to the city

tomorrow morning under police escort.

What?

He has an appointment with his brother

at police headquarters.

Well, that means he'll tell everything he's found out.

That's what the police think also.

He should arrive there about 8:30.

Yes, just about 8:30.

About time he's getting here, isn't it?

Yes, it's past 8:30.

Maybe this is the car now.

Welcome back, Mr. Bannister.

How about a statement for the press?

Sorry, I can't say a word till I've seen my brother.

Oh, come on now, you got to give us some sort

- of a statement here after all. - I'm sorry.

- Yes? - Mr. Bannister is here

to see Mr. O'Brien.

Send him in.

Hello, Bill.

Hiya, fella.

Hi, Chief.

Glad to see you, son.

Thanks.

I'll leave you two alone to talk things over.

Thanks, Chief.

Come on, sit down and tell me all about yourself.

Kind of a dirty trick,

but you better take down what he says in there.

Yes, sir.

I better tell you what I found out

about this League of Murdered Men.

You mean even the convicts call the gang

by that cheap, theatrical name?

It may sound theatrical, Bill, but it's on the level.

What do you mean on the level?

Practically every man in the mob is dead.

Oh, now wait a minute. Maybe I didn't get you out in time.

You must be stir crazy.

I'm giving you the facts, Bill. One of 'em came to see me.

Did you get his name?

Yeah, it was Carlson, George Carlson.

George Carlson.

Oh, it's probably phony.

Yeah, probably, but we'll check on it anyway.

What else?

He offered to get me out of prison if I joined the mob.

How did he expect to spring you?

He gave me a little piece of paper

with what he called a run-out powder in it.

Run-out powder?

Now don't tell me you fell for a gag like that.

Oh it would've worked all right, but I couldn't go for it.

So he gave me a number I can have my lawyer call

if I change my mind.

You remember the number?

Yeah, he wrote it on the powder paper.

It was Waverly four--

The window.

We can't do anything afoot. Come on.

Hey, wait for me!

Swing around the corner.

I think that coupe in the back is following us.

When I pull up alongside, shoot a picture of that mug.

Okay, if the mug doesn't take a shot at us first.

It's trailing us, all right.

Cops?

No, I think it's a press car.

Put up that rod. I'll take care of 'em.

You all right?

I wonder what happened in here.

Anybody get hurt?

Did you get the picture?

I think so.

Well, let's get down to the police lab and develop it.

Hey, the guy in that car snapped a picture of me.

Are you sure?

I was looking right at him.

Then you'll need a real hideout,

and I better take your right to Professor Mortis.

Yeah? Swell.

It's about time I met that guy after all I done for him.

I think you're right.

Sorry, Bill.

Sort of look after things for me, will you, Chief?

Sure, Bill.

Tim, take this down to the lab.

There's a bare chance they may be able to identify

the gun that fired it from the markings on the bullets.

Sure.

I'm going down to Emergency.

See if the fella the chief shot can talk talk yet.

Don't worry, Bill. They won't get away with this.

Looks like I'm too late.

He never regained consciousness.

Anybody recognize him?

Well, not much chance.

He'd had his face changed with plastic surgery.

How about fingerprints?

Blair has got them up in the lab checking them now.

Thanks.

Any luck?

Not yet.

No, not so far.

Hm, here it is.

Who is it?

Jake Jordan.

Couldn't be Jordan. He's been dead over six months.

You must be mistaken. These prints are identical.

And fingerprints don't lie.

Randall's right. They're identical.

All right, they're identical, but Jake Jordan

still committed suicide in jail over six months ago.

You don't suppose there is something

to that League of Murdered--

Oh, how could there be anything to it?

Well, how could Jordan be dead six months ago

and running around town this morning, shooting people?

We just heard the bad news about your brother coming up.

Yeah, sure is tough.

I'd rather not talk about it if you don't mind.

I know, but we have something here that might help,

three pictures of the getaway, and one of them is a closeup.

Lend us your dark room, and we'll prove it.

Sure, go right ahead.

Hey, what is this?

I thought I was going to the professor's hideout.

You are.

We just have time to make it before the next train.

And look out for that third rail.

Hey, I don't like this.

Come on, get down there quick. There's a train coming.

This is sure some hideout. Where's the Professor?

This way.

Mr. Mortis, this is Mike Taboni.

Glad to meet you, Professor.

I wish I might say the same, Mr. Taboni.

I thought I made it clear that only members

of the League of Murdered Men were to be brought here.

It's time Taboni joined.

So you don't mean he failed in the work assigned him?

Me? I never miss.

He was photographed getting away,

and the police have the photographs.

Well, in that case, of course you must die.

Are you kidding?

I understood you wanted to join us permanently.

Well sure I want to join, but I ain't dying to do it, see?

Oh come now, dying is not so hard.

We've all done it, Mr. Halliger, Mr. Wilkerson, myself.

We're suicides, all of us.

Suicides?

Yes.

Well, I guess it's all right if you like it.

But as for me, I don't want no part of it.

So I'll be seeing you.

Wait.

I forgot to tell you that after you're dead,

we bring you back to life.

Yeah? Well, listen, I ain't no professor.

But I know a few answers too.

And one of them is when you're dead, you stay dead.

Well, it's up to you, Mr. Taboni, whether you die

and are brought back to life or whether you just die.

Hey, wait a minute. You can't do this to me.

What's the idea anyhow?

To save you from the police.

They're bound to get you sooner or later.

But if they find you dead, they'll quit looking for you.

If I'm dead, what do I care who finds me?

All right, take him to the next room

- if that's how he wants it. - Oh, nix, fellas.

Professor, are you sure you can bring me back, Professor?

Well, up to now, I've never failed.

Up to now.

Well, all right. If I gotta, I just gotta.

But I know I ain't gonna like it.

Keep this until you need it.

Take him to his rooms and collect his belongings.

Leave no trace of him.

Wilkerson, you go to the airport and tell Max

to be ready to take a passenger at a new gate.

It will be safer for us if the police find you

in some other city.

Anything you say, but I still say I ain't gonna like it.

Take a look at these wet prints.

Don't say anything. I feel bad enough as it is.

Forget it.

Wait a second, I think I've got something.

Whose gun is it?

Taboni. Now we're getting somewhere.

Get his mug for me out of the gallery.

Taboni, alias Carlson.

By the way, I found this in back of the watch.

Mean anything to you?

What is it?

It must be that run-out powder Bud told me about.

Waverly 43752, the number he was to call.

Hello, get me the address of Waverly 43752

814 Iago Street? Thanks.

Have you a roomer here by the name of Carlson?

No, never been one here by that name

as far as I can remember.

Did you ever see this man around here?

Oh, sure, he's been here three or four months.

Which is his room?

He just checked out not five minutes ago.

He's leaving town.

Did he say where he was going?

No, but the man with him said something about an airport.

- An airport? - Mhm.

Did he say which one?

Is there one called Maxis?

There sure is. It's on the Harbor Road.

Well, thank you.

You're welcome.

There's the airport right ahead.

Yeah.

And there's a prowl car right behind, coming fast.

Tell Halliger to report back to headquarters

when he gets here.

I'm gonna beat it.

Put up your gun. I'll stop them.

Just be ready to jump and get in that plane.

Get goin'.

Take off. I'll take care of this one.

See "The Death Plunge,"

chapter two of "Gang Busters" at this theater next week.