Morals Squad
Brief Synopsis
Cast & Crew
Bob O'connell
Beverly Bennett
Vince Marcellino
Maritza
Jeri Archer
Vince Barbi
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
Big-city vice squad detective O'Connell wants to destroy a notorious call girl racket. O'Connell discovers that the call girls are working for Jeri, a madam headquartered at a waterfront bar that caters to businessmen wanting to entertain visiting clients. Because Jeri knows O'Connell, he asks Vince, a detective from another precinct, to gather evidence at the bar. Before Vince can arrange for a "party," thereby proving that the bar is a center of prostitution, Tamar, one of the prostitutes, recognizes him as the policeman who once arrested her on a shoplifting charge. With this plan unsuccessful, O'Connell arranges for policewoman Beverly Bennett to go undercover at the bar and pose as a call girl looking for a job. Although the ploy results in Beverly being kidnapped by the gangsters who are backing Jeri, Beverly is eventually rescued and testifies against Jeri and her cohorts.
Cast
Bob O'connell
Beverly Bennett
Vince Marcellino
Maritza
Jeri Archer
Vince Barbi
Film Details
Technical Specs
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
According to information in NYSA files, Morals Squad was approved "with eliminations" for exhibition in New York State on April 14, 1960. NYSA records reveal that the eliminations consisted of several shots of bare female breasts and suggestive situations. Other NYSA materials indicate that the film's distributor, Joseph Brenner Associates, was advised not to use objectionable photographs and phrasing in posters or other advertising for the film, but that some New York City theaters were using such exploitation materials in advertisements.
A dialogue continuity deposited with NYSA indicates that Bob O'Connell, as "Detective O'Connell," delivers a lengthy voice-over narration introducing the film and explaining the problems of big-city vice control. His voice-over continues with intermittent narration throughout the film and concludes by stating: "Looking back at the city, I can't help but wonder who are really the worst...the hoodlums or the hypocritical citizens who support them."
According to reviews, the film was shot entirely in New York City. Although no available contemporary sources reveal any production credits, other than cast, modern sources indicate that prolific exploitation filmmaker Barry Mahon was both the producer and director of Morals Squad. Because character names within the film are the same as the names of the actors who portray them, it is likely that the names are all pseudonyms.
