The studio known as "Pretty Rotten Cinema" had a few surprises in its short shelf life with a couple of film noir that are now considered classics and a few comedy gems. Like the longer lasting Monogram, it utilized actors past their prime, and in the case of James Dunn (a major Fox star from the early 1930's), during a period when poverty row Hollywood was the only part of the industry who would hire him. But that would change within a few years with an amazing "return" in "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn", and Oscar glory changed all that.
This above average crime caper with a lot of comedy stars Dunn as a collections agent whose run-in with Anna Lisa over an unpaid radio bill leads him to become involved in breaking up a den of jewel thieves. Girlfriend Frances Gifford becomes involved simply because she was waiting for him at the time he had his incident with Lisa (resulting in their arrest), and this leads to a complex series of events that also involves movie star Rita LaRoy (another forgotten star from the early 1930's) and some pretty reprehensible mobsters.
A scene involving someone being threatened with an electric drill is pretty frightening, but thanks to the interaction between Dunn, Gifford and her squabbling family, it's basically a Iight hearted romp around L.A. that will keep the audience enthralled. A closing chase sequence brings everything to a swift and satisfying conclusion that is aided by a decent script, tight photography and memorable performances. I could easily see this as a series of "B's" involving the two leads and of course more of Gifford's whack-a-doodle family.
This above average crime caper with a lot of comedy stars Dunn as a collections agent whose run-in with Anna Lisa over an unpaid radio bill leads him to become involved in breaking up a den of jewel thieves. Girlfriend Frances Gifford becomes involved simply because she was waiting for him at the time he had his incident with Lisa (resulting in their arrest), and this leads to a complex series of events that also involves movie star Rita LaRoy (another forgotten star from the early 1930's) and some pretty reprehensible mobsters.
A scene involving someone being threatened with an electric drill is pretty frightening, but thanks to the interaction between Dunn, Gifford and her squabbling family, it's basically a Iight hearted romp around L.A. that will keep the audience enthralled. A closing chase sequence brings everything to a swift and satisfying conclusion that is aided by a decent script, tight photography and memorable performances. I could easily see this as a series of "B's" involving the two leads and of course more of Gifford's whack-a-doodle family.