Convict's Code (Monogram) (1939)

“CONVICTS ODE,” GRIPPING DRAMA QF PAROLE, SIZZLES ON..... SCREEN a eel Robert Kent and Sidney Anne Nagel, Blackmer in Mono gram Picture ae (REVIEW ) The other side of the “parole racket” is exposed in Monogram’s “Convict’s Code,” now at the................-theatre, in a thrill-packed story of a football star, framed before his “big game,’ released from _ prison on parole to track down the gamblers who “sent him up.” Dave “Whiz” Tyler, All-American, is accused of a bank robbery, and six paid witnesses lie to convict him. When Dave is released on parole, his one thought is to get the man who framed him. Only Greg Warren will give Dave a job, and it is Greg, unknown to Dave, who is the man he is after. To complicate matters, Dave falls in love with Julie, Greg’s sister, who is unaware of his identity. He gets a clue about each witness, but also dis covers that they have disappeared. When all his hopes are blasted, Dave sees success within his grasp, for Sniffy, a former prison pal, knows the identity of the man Dave is seeking. But Sniffy won't tell unless Dave will he!p him rob a factory, and Dave must consent. When the police pursue them after the robbery, Dave wrings the man’s name from Sniffy’s Jips. Torn between love and_ honor, Dave, arrested by the parole officer for carrying a gun, decides to go back to prison rather than hurt Julie, who idolizes her brother. But Fate makes the choice for Dave in a surprising climax, full of strong drama and thrills, and prison gates release him to Julie’s arms. Robert Kent hand'es the difficult role of Dave expertly, and Anne Nagel, as Julie, is both beautiful and capable in this dramatic part. Suave Sidney Blackmer is seen as Greg, the gambler who goes straight too late, and Ben Alexander is outstanding as Jeff, Dave’s loyal college pal. Others in the cast inc'ude Pat Flaherty, Dennis Moore, Maude Eburne, and Norman Willis. Lambert Hillyer directed from the screenplay by John Krafft and John Neville. PAROLE DRAMA A smashing story of the parole racket, “Convict’s Code? at the cccccccooooos. ok awh eae theatre, has Robert Kent in a gun-crusading role. Others in the cast are Anne Nagel and Sidney Blackmer. One Col. Cut or Mat No. 6 Two former’ professional football players are featured in Monogram’s “Convict’s Code,” now at the.................... theatre. They are Robert Kent, who has the starring role of the All American who went to prison on the eve of his school’s big game; and Pat Flaherty, who is seen as the man who leads him to those who framed him. STICK-UP IN FUR LOFT | Robert Kent gives his henchman, ane “Gonviets Code’ (at: the... ln him behind prison bars. inently in the Monogram melodrama. Pat Flaherty, the surprise of his life Phot es theatre when he goes along on a robbery to trick him into disclosing information about the men who framed Anne Nagel and Sidney Blackmer appear prom Two Col. Cut or Mat No. 4 Se? S —_ > sS Ss Sh SO —:):hlC OC OP —COC So sO OC | hc OC PS MOVIES AID OPPRESSED Claims Associate Producer of ““Convict’s Code,”’ After Return From European Tour <p ' ' s Y ' re <P <> tt <> -— «<P> -eS -— -—S -<Se PP SBS -o-—|— HP — SP Pp | Frank Melford, who was the associate producer on Monogram's "Convict's Code," now at the theatre, spent the summer months of last year touring Europe, and he declares that motion pictures have been a great psychological help to the peoples who live in the shadow of the sword. "To the European," stated Melford, ''war is a fact he might face any tomorrow, and although his uniform is a natural part of his wardrobe, he accepts this condition and relieves the strain by going to movies, to cafes, to theatres. The temper of life is so hysterically high paced in France, Italy, and the Balkans, which | covered on my trip, that moving pictures are a great release for the people." Mr. Melford is production executive with E. B. Derr, who produced "Convict's Code" for Monogram from the original screenplay by John Krafft. It-is the story of a football star who was framed and sent to prison just before his school's big game. Outstanding in the cast are Anne Nagel, Robert Kent and Sidney Blackmer. Mishap Greets Actor On First Day Of Shooting << After “Convict’s Code,” now showing finished shooting, Sidney Blackmer who is featured in the picture said that he enjoyed working for Monogram because it was one of the friendliest lots in Hollywood, but that he was a little suspicious of the welcome they gave him. “Convict’s Code,” the story of a college football star who is framed into going to prison to take him out of the big game, is the first picture Blackmer has made for Monogram. The first day on the set, Sidney drove thru the pebbled entrance of the studio, and a small rock flew up and struck him in the right eye, which promptly turned black. Blackmer was rushed to the doctor and then to the make-up man, who did all he could to change the color of the offending eye, when it was discovered that the wound was not serious. The problem was solved by having Sidney act with one side of his face towards the camera all one day. “Convict’s Code” has in its cast Robert Kent and Anne Nagel in the leading roles, and Ben Alexander, Maude Eburne, and Norman Willis supporting them. Lambert Hillyer directed from the screenplay by John Krafft. a & Hollywood Truly “Coo-Coo” Land, As This Story Of Ghost Film Indicates Se Hollywood has been called “coocoo land” by certain magazines because of the many strange things that occur in that town. But the strangest happening of all has been overlooked by every writer. It is a story told by Ben Alexander, who is currently featured in Mono gram’s “Convict’s Code” at the............... ia ae at theatre, with Robert Kent and Anne Nagel in the starring roles. The story concerns a_ picture that took six weeks to make although the producer never intended to release it. All Ben knows, and he was the star of this feature, is that some wealthy man from New York wanted his wife to see the inside workings of a studio; and when he had no luck getting her through one, decided to make a picture of his own, so his wife and her friends could be on the set whenever they wanted to. For six weeks scenes were shot over and over again; every night rushes were viewed by the “producer” and his wife. No reports of any kind were kept; in fact, the director used to sleep most of the time, and the actors worked only when Mrs. Producer and her friends were on the set. Ben says that when somebody decided the picture had worked long enough, the actors were paid off (in real money) and the used film was put on a shelf and forgotten. Anyway, a lot of un. employed actors got jobs for a few days. “Convict’s Code” is the story of a co'lege football star who was framed and sent to prison on the eve of his school’s “big game.” Prominent in the cast are Anne Nagel, Sidney Blackmer, Maude Eburne, Norman Willis, and Carleton Young. Lambert Hillyer directed from the screenplay by John Krafft and John T. Neville. EX-FOOTBALLERS PLENTIFUL IN CINEMA CITY oo Robert Kent, star of Monogram’s “Convict’s Code,” now at the...................... theatre, plays, in this picture, the role of an All-American football star who is framed and sent to prison on the eve of his school’s big game. This is the first time Kent has been the a football player, and it is interesting to note that college, Bob played professional football for to get enough money try his luck on the seen on screen as after he was graduated from two years, in order together to stage. Of course Kent is only one of many ex-football stars now working in Ho'lywood. Others include John Mack Brown, the Alabama All American, Herman Brix of Washington, John Wayne from U. S. C., and many others. It of these men, only John Mack Brown a film is a coincidence that began his screen career as football player. Outstanding in the cast of “Con. victs Code” are Anne Nagel, Sidney Blackmer, Ben Alexander, and Maude Eburne. In ““Convict’s Code,” Monogram story of an ex-football hero caught in the web of a great crime ring, Joan Barclay, featured in the film, which is now at Ge Oe Ea et theatre, graduates from western pictures, in which she has played leads for a year. Robert Kent, Anne Nagel, and Sidney Blackmer have the leading roles in “Convict’s Code.” _.> <-> > — — — +— => t t Some Speed ! Ben Alexander, who is currently featured in Monogram’s “Convicts Code,” TOU ACE EL @3 2 realness ie theatre, flew down to Hollywood from Stanford University, where he is a student, for his part in the picture, and then flew back again, after completion of the picture. ga _ «< -e S SS -— Pp t 1 | DIRTY WORK | Robert tight spot in “Convict’s Code” at the 1a Be 1B Ae) tae Ba FO OT a theatre, when he discovers the identity of the man who Kent finds himself in a railroaded him to jail. Anne Nagel, Sidney Blackmer and Ben Alexander are in the cast. One Col. Cut or Mat No. 5 | SNAPSHOTS | wl In Monogram’s “Convict’s Code,” now at the theatre, Robert Kent, star of the film, took a screen swing at Dennis Moore, who plays a drunk, and knocked Moore out for five minutes, accidentally, of course. Sidney Blackmer, who plays the suave villain in Monogram’s “Convicts ‘Code: nowiat INes theatre, is one of the finest character actors in Hollywood. It was he who portrayed President Theodore Roosevelt in “This is My Affair.” Anne Nagel, featured in Monogram's “Convict’s Code,"’ now at the theatre, is taking gliding lessons, and soon will be able to fly her own plane. Robert Kent and Sidney Blackmer are also featured in this story of a football star who goes to prison on the eve of his school’s big game. Sidney Blackmer, who is the villain in Monogram’s “Convict’s Code,” now ray | teens Riedl ha cht Re OSS BMA theatre, three times turned down the role of Theodore Roosevelt in different pictures. He won acclaim for his portrayal of the. beloved president in “This is My Affair,” but is afraid of being typed if he continues to play this part.