Prosecutor Johnny Conroy (O'Brien) is out to break up the criminal gangs in his city. The son of police officer Matt Conroy (Tom Tully), Johnny has no political ambitions...just a desire to bring down the Eichelberger syndicate. Telling his dad that he wants an honest cop---one he can trust---on his team, Johnny asks Matt to be his special investigator...an assignment the older man refuses.
Jerry McKibben (William Holden), a news reporter and longtime friend of Johnny's, wonders about Matt's refusal to help his son investigate the criminal gang, and after following him on a hunch, Jerry begins to believe that Matt is a crooked cop. Eventually, Jerry is certain that Matt is on the syndicate's payroll, and, confronting him, Jerry makes clear that unless Matt breaks free, he will expose him in the newspaper. Not wanting to embarrass his son that way, Matt comes clean to Jerry, explaining how he got involved in corrupt activities and asking for advice about how to get out.
Hoping to keep from Johnny the fact that his father is a cop on the take, Jerry doesn't go to Johnny with the information; instead, he counsels Matt to double-cross Eichelberger (Ed Begley). However, Eichelberger has people planted everywhere, so he knows of Matt's intent to double-cross. How will he respond? Will Matt be able to break free? Will he be able to keep his corrupt activities from his son? Or will the prosecutor find out that his trusted father is a crooked cop? And what does Eichelberger intend to do to keep newsman McKibbin from finding out anything more?
In the midst of all these questions being resolved, Jerry is finding himself drawn to Johnny's girlfriend, Mandy (Alexis Smith), and she is finding herself drawn to Jerry as well. How will Johnny react if he discovers that not only is his dad a dirty cop, but his girlfriend and best friend have fallen in love?
The Turning Point actually started out as a 4-star film; however, somewhere in the middle, it deteriorated slightly for me. A courtroom scene that was a bit tedious...trying to wrap everything up a bit too quickly, so that it seemed a bit contrived...a scene toward the end (with Neville Brand, at the boxing arena) that was too drawn out...for those reasons I went with 3 rather than 4 stars. Still, though, this is a very solid 3-star film, with an interesting storyline and good acting by all. Edmond O'Brien was super---and every believable---in his role. And Bill Holden gave his usual fantastic performance. Plus, he was beyond handsome at this point in his career, so this film is worth watching just to look at him! I feel sure William Holden and Edmond O'Brien fans will enjoy this movie.
I don't believe the film is out on DVD, but I know it is available through Net Flix instant viewing, and it is available in its entirety on YouTube (above video).
Happy viewing!!
