Federal Bullets is a leisurely paced Monogram crime melodrama with not a few clever plot twists. The FBI, represented by Milburn Stone and William Harrigan, investigates a seemingly respectable charitable organization. In fact, the enterprise is a front for a crime ring, headed by Ma Barker clone Zeffie Tilbury (Trivia note: Ms. Tilbury was totally blind, and had to learn her "blocking" by rote).
Acting
Zeffie Tilbury, totally blind, learned every move by rote.
Production
Monogram's cheap sets somehow make the corruption feel seedier.
Director
Karl Brown
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Zeffie Tilbury had been completely blind for years before this role; director Karl Brown had crew members guide her physically through each scene until she memorized every step, turn, and gesture.
The 'Ma Barker' archetype here capitalizes on 1935 headlines — the real Ma Barker's violent death in a Florida shootout made maternal crime bosses briefly fascinating to Depression audiences.
US
