Harrison's Reports (1939)

March 4, 1939 HARRISON'S REPORTS 35 "The Saint Strikes Back" with George Sanders and Wendy Barrie (RKO, March 10; time, 64 min.) This is a good follow up to '"The Saint in New York." It is an engrossing program gangster melodrama, with a mystifying plot, and plentiful exciting action. George Sanders, who replaced Louis Hayward as "The Saint," is convincing in the part of the self-appointed detective who, single-handed, outwits a gang of crooks and uncovers the identity of the gang leader. The methods Sanders employs are at times the cause for laughter and, at other times, for excitement. There is just a hint of romance between Sanders and the girl he tries to protect, but in the end they part. Wendy Barrie, who had entered a life of petty crime in order to find out, if possible, who had framed her father, a former police official, on a robbery charge, the disgrace of which had caused his death, is annoyed when Sanders interferes with her plans. She refuses to believe that he wanted to help her prove her father's innocence by finding out who the leader of the gang was, and thus break up a gang of criminals who had been operating with a free hand. But in time she is convinced of the fact, and so she joins forces with him. Their investigations lead them to a wealthy philanthropist, who kills himself when he realizes that he had been trapped. In the meantime, Jonathan Hale, a New York police inspector, who believed Sanders himself to be guilty of crimes and, therefore, wanted to arrest him, is constantly outwitted by Sanders. Eventually Sanders proves Miss Barrie's father's innocence, and discloses that the gang leader was none other than Neil Hamilton, who was supposed to be Miss Barrie's intimate friend ; he proves also that Hamilton had been assisted by Jerome Cowan, a police official. With the case finished, Sanders bids Miss Barrie goodbye, even though he was drawn to her, for he was the type of man who wanted to be free to continue his work without any hindrance. Leslie Charteris wrote the story, and John Twist, the screen play ; John Farrow directed it, and Robert Sisk produced it. In the cast are Barry Fitzgerald, Robert Elliott, Russell Hopton, Edward Gargan, and others. The activities of the crooks make it unsuitable for children. Class B. "Forged Passport" with Paul Kelly, June Lang and Lyle Talbot {Republic, March 24; time, 61 min.) Just a moderately entertaining program melodrama. The plot is developed without much excitement, most of the thrills being concentrated in the closing scenes. Some audiences may resent the comments made by a few characters with reference to the lack of intelligence on the part of U. S. Immigration officials at the Mexican border, for, with the exception of the hero, the others are presented as being somewhat stupid. Billy Gilbert gives his usual good performance, provoking laughter by his actions. A few musical numbers are presented in an entertaining way : — Paul Kelly, a member of the U. S. Immigration Patrol at the Mexican border, who is known for his hot temper, is warned by the commanding officer to control his impulse to fight. Kelly uncovers a smuggling plot, in which Lyle Talbot, cafe owner, had had a hand, and Talbot warns him to keep out of his affairs. Kelly receives a telephone call, presumably from Billy Gilbert, a cafe owner to whom he was indebted, threatening to expose him unless he would bring the money over to his cafe immediately. Kelly sends over a new recruit (Maurice Murphy) to reason with Gilbert. But it suddenly dawns upon him that it might be a trap. And he was right, but by the time he arrives at the cafe Murphy is dead, shot by some one who had been waiting for Kelly. After admitting his part in the affair, Kelly resigns. He opens a gasoline station in partnership with Gilbert, whose cafe had been closed. By pretending to smuggle men across the border, Kelly comes to Talbot's attention ; they make a deal to work as partners. In this way Kelly is able to uncover the activities of the gang ; he himself is shocked to learn that the leader was a respected man with whom he had been friendly. His work finished, Kelly marries June Lang, a cafe entertainer. James Webb and Lee Loeb wrote the story, and Franklin Coen and Lee Loeb, the screen play ; John Auer directed and produced it. In the cast are Cliff Nazarro, Christian Rub, John Hamilton, Dewey Robinson, and others. The murder and smuggling make it unsuitable for children. Class B. "Prison Without Bars" with Edna Best (London Films-United Artists, March IS; time, 77 min.) A pretty gripping prison melodrama. But, before it will do business in the United States, it will have to be exploited, for the players are unknown here. Although the plot is not novel, the performances are so good that, even though the action at times drags, one is interested in the various characters, following their actions intently. The spectator sympathizes particularly with the heroine, who had been imprisoned on a framed charge ; her softening under the influence of the new matron, who treated her with kindness, touches one. The love interest, although logical, is in some respects unappealing, for it brings unhappiness to a character for whom one feels the deepest admiration. There is very little comic relief. The action takes place in a prison for women located at the outskirts of Paris : — Tortured by the cruel methods employed by Martita Hunt, head of a prison for women, the inmates are rebellious. Corinne Luchaire, a young girl of charm, who had been imprisoned on a framed charge, tries to escape on a few occasions but she is caught and brought back each time. The government officials, having heard of Miss Hunt's unpleasant methods, send Edna Best to replace her as head of the institution. Miss Hunt stays on as an assistant. Miss Best is happy to be there, for, unknown to any one, the prison doctor (Barry K. Barnes) was her sweetheart. Much to Miss Hunt's disgust, Miss Best changes things considerably ; she takes Miss Luchaire under her wing and gradually softens her. Having learned that Miss Luchaire liked nursing, she assigns her to work with Barnes. Barnes, disappointed because Miss Best would not marry him immediately, turns his affections to Miss Luchaire ; they fall madly in love with each other. One of the inmates finds it out and proceeds to blackmail Miss Luchaire. But the truth finally comes out. Miss Luchaire is heartbroken when she learns that Miss Best loved Barnes. But Miss Best, who had won a parole for the girl, insists that she leave and join Barnes, who was going to India. Miss Best, with tears in her eyes, watches the girl go, feeling that she herself was more of a prisoner than the inmates. Arthur Wimperis wrote the scenario ; Brian D. Hurst directed it, and Alexander Korda produced it, with Irving Asher, associate producer. Not suitable for children. Adult fare. Class B. "Code of the Streets" with Harry Carey and Frankie Thomas (Universal, May 5 ; time, 69 min.) A good program melodrama. In spite of the fact that the story is somewhat far-fetched, it holds one's attention well, for the action is fast and at times pretty exciting. "The Little Tough Guys," headed this time by James McCallion, give good performances, provoking laughter by their toughness and by the tricks they play. In this picture, however, they concentrate more on drama than on comedy. One feels sympathy for McCallion, whose brother had been framed on a murder charge. Harry Carey, too, wins one's sympathy by his efforts to help the accused man. There is no love interest : — Paul Fix, a victim of his slum environment, who had wandered into a life of petty crime, is arrested for murder on a charge framed by the real murderer. Carey, the detective who had arrested Fix, feels certain that he was innocent ; but Fix is tried, convicted, and sentenced to the death penalty. When Carey tells the District Attorney how he felt about the case, he is demoted to the rank of an ordinary policeman. His young son (Frankie Thomas), desirous of helping his father, goes down to the slum district where Fix had lived, and becomes acquainted with his young brother (McCallion) and his gang. They are suspicious of Thomas until he tells them that he wanted to help Fix. But when they learn he was Carey's son, they beat him up and throw him out of the gang. When they find out about Carey's demotion they regret their act and take Thomas back. The boys discover the identity of the real criminal and, by threats of torture, force him to confess. Carey arrives in time to make the arrest. He is reinstated, and Fix is released. Thomas is considered by the gang a hero. Arthur T. Horman wrote the original screen play ; Harold Young directed it. and Hurt Kellv produced it. In the cast are Leon Ames, Marc Lawrance, I£l Hrendel. Juanita Qtllgley, and others. Suitability, Class A.