Tonight's Movie: Code Two (1953)

CODE TWO is an entertaining MGM "B" movie about the training of LAPD motorcycle cops. It's no classic, but it's fun to watch and is likely to appeal to a variety of people, including Southern Californians, fans of vintage motorcycles, and those who enjoy watching TV Westerns and police shows.

This short 69-minute black and white film plays somewhat like an episode of DRAGNET, complete with the opening credits superimposed over a police badge. The documentary-style first half of the film is the best, as we follow three new recruits through their training at the Los Angeles Police Academy. The trainees supervised by Sgt. Culdane (Keenan Wynn) and Lt. Redmon (James Craig).

The rookies are played by Robert Horton (WAGON TRAIN), Ralph Meeker, and Jeff Richards (SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS). Horton plays the responsible family man, who's married to Sally Forrest; Meeker is the brash womanizer; and Richards is the shy hunk dating Forrest's gorgeous sister, played by Elaine Stewart. I especially enjoyed Richards and Stewart and wished they'd had a little more screen time.

The film shifts gears after the men make the motorcycle squad; tragedy strikes, leading the officers to work on solving a murder case involving modern-day cattle rustlers. I found this section of the film less interesting than the "nuts and bolts" of police training of the early '50s. There's a bit of "early CSI" info regarding tire treads and blood testing, but this part of the film has a more run-of-the-mill "catch the bad guys" storyline.

It's noteworthy that the actors did quite a bit of their own motorcycle riding, including, as far as I could tell, some of the more dangerous maneuvers. The riding sequences are done so smoothly that I didn't even think about the fact the actors themselves had been riding off road and even spilling their bikes until I read a review at Where Danger Lives. That aspect merits a closer look next time to see which scenes, if any, were done with stunt doubles.

Fans of classic TV Westerns will enjoy seeing not only Robert Horton, but Chuck Connors, who turns up as an L.A. County Sheriff near the end of the film.

The familiar character faces in the film include Fred Graham, Roy Engel, Robert Foulk, Tyler McVey, Frank Wilcox, and Almira Sessions.

It's interesting that IMDb notes the footage of Ann Doran as a police dispatcher is actually taken from her role in HE WALKED BY NIGHT (1948). If that's accurate it's rather curious, as HE WALKED BY NIGHT was not an MGM movie.

CODE TWO was directed by Fred M. Wilcox.

CODE TWO is not available on VHS or DVD, but it can be seen on Turner Classic Movies. The trailer is available at TCM.