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A lot of perfectly good film show their cards early, establish a unique premise and let the audience explore a topic at a leisurely pace, without much in terms of surprise. this film is not one of those films.

This is one of the few movies I've ever seen where the whole audience broke into spontaneous, loud applause a third of the way in.

One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.

One of the most extraordinary films you will see this year. Take that as you want.

1937's "Born Reckless" speeds along at a breathless 59 minutes, not cut down from 78 as one author asserts, this was the original running time, meaning a rush job in the editing department resulting in the absence of Lon Chaney's unbilled role as a garage mechanic. Second billed Brian Donlevy was in familiar territory, having played a G-man in disguise earlier that year in the equally fine "Midnight Taxi" - here, he's champion race car driver Bob 'Hurry' Cane, who blows all his winnings and takes a job with the Martin cab company, as Dad Martin (Harry Carey) is an old friend. This brings all sorts of risks since the Excelsior company run by Jim Barnes (Barton MacLane) is not on the level, taking out every rival who doesn't pay into his lethal protection racket, at $5 per cab. Top billing goes to Rochelle Hudson as Sybil Roberts, Barnes' chief moll with expensive tastes and questionable motives, seemingly taking a liking to the new driver in town, trying to steer him in Excelsior's direction. So assured is Donlevy that the actor didn't let two injured fingers on his left hand impair his performance, a painful film to make but the results are first rate (shooting title "Armored Taxi"). Natural funny men Eddie Dunn and Syd Saylor are uncharacteristically among the bad guys, while Lon Chaney would also find himself on the cutting room floor in Fox features like "Love is News," "That I May Live," and "Walking Down Broadway," a rather forgettable period preceding his sudden stardom in 1939's "Of Mice and Men."

When Brian Donlevy arrives in the big city, he finds himself involved in a cab war. This ruthless racket (lead by Barton MacLane) is out to get the small cabs off the road so he can clean up. MacLane won't stop at anything to get what he wants, but a pretty sophisticate (Rochelle Hudson) has other ideas on her mind, playing both ends against the middle as she spends time with both Donlevy and MacLane in order to avenge a wrong from one of the two. At only an hour long, this fast moving crime drama is a small gem, no masterpiece, but certainly entertaining none the less. Harry Carey offers some wisdom as the wise "Dad Martin" while MacLane is playing one of the most nefarious villains of his varied career. (Take note, "I Dream of Jeannie" fans, yes this is the same actor who played the General some 30 years later!).With some non-stereotypical gangsters (not the usual dumb bully's) as part of the action (and some great use of street violence), this speeds on by just as Donlevy's racer did in the opening sequence. Hudson isn't one of those pretty heroines who stands back and frets as the hero tries to protect her; She's right in there on the action, and that makes her a much more interesting character. Donlevy, who played both heroes and villains, is quite dashing here, not afraid at all to stand up to the bad guy, yet not so angelic that butter wouldn't melt in his mouth, either.

An extremely lively, well-acted programmer, credited to director Mal St Clair, a top man in the silent period, but now working in Fox's "B" unit. As usual for Fox, the budget looks extremely generous for a "B"-grader, with lots of extras, attractive sets, and Miss Hudson modeling a stunning series of winning costumes. But most important ingredient of all: scads of action! Indeed perhaps too much action and too over the top. The script is credited to John Patrick, plus Fox's top writing team, Robert Ellis and Helen Logan. Unfortunately, "Born Reckless" was a troubled production. Donlevy injured his left hand, other writers were brought in, and director Gustav Machaty shot some footage – possibly all of the more spirited scenes with Donlevy which do not seem typical of credited director Mal St Clair's usual, far more leisurely style. The action spots are certainly most vigorously staged but rather far-fetched for what is supposed to be a realistic exposé of graft and corruption in the taxi industry.

Born Reckless (1937) ** (out of 4) Silly Fox film has gangsters running a taxi service and trying to bump off another taxi service in town. Then an auto racing champion (Brian Donlevy) joins forces with the good guys to wipe out the gangsters. This is a rather strange film throughout its 59-minute running time because at times the thing tries to be very serious but at other times its so over the top that it comes off very campy. There are several "bumper cars" type action with taxis running into one another and this is fun but it takes away from later scenes, which, again, are trying to be serious. Donlevy is good in a role where you can tell the studio would have preferred James Cagney. The supporting cast includes Rochelle Hudson, Robert Kent, Harry Carey, George Walcott and Pauline Moore.