T-BIRD GANG

John Brinkley and Ed Nelson

T-BIRD GANG (1959). Director: Richard Harbinger. 

Frank Simmons (John Brinkley) drives up to the warehouse where his father is a night watchman and discovers he's been murdered during a robbery. Leaning that a "T-Bird gang" -- named after the getaway car they drive -- led by Alex Hendricks (Ed Nelson of New Orleans Uncensored) is responsible, Frank takes it upon himself to join the gang to get incriminating evidence against them. Eventually Police Captain Prell (Coleman Francis) cooperates and encourages Frank's undercover work. Hendricks' other employees include Barney (Beach Dickerson); blond Raymond (Tony Miller); a boy named, well, "Boy;" and Hendrick's girlfriend, Marla (Pat George). Nola Thorp plays Frank's girlfriend, Kay. 

John Brinkley 

T-Bird Gang is a minor crime meller but it benefits from two very good performances from Nelson -- quite sinister and effective as Hendricks -- and Brinkley. Nelson appeared in numerous Roger Corman films but had a successful career afterwards, while Brinkley was a sexy and talented actor whose most famous credit was probably Corman's Bucket of Blood. He and co-star Tony Miller wrote the screenplay. This was the only film directed by Harbinger. 

Verdict: Acceptable melodrama with lots of bongo music. **1/4.