The Vice Squad (1931)

A diplomat is blackmailed by crooked vice cops into helping them frame prostitutes.

Director:

John Cromwell

Writer:

Oliver H.P. Garrett

Stars:

Paul Lukas, Kay Francis, Judith Wood

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Paul Lukas	...	Stephen Lucarno
Kay Francis	...	Alice Morrison
Judith Wood	...	Madeleine Hunt
William B. Davidson	...	Magistrate Tom Morrison
Rockliffe Fellowes	...	Detective-Sergeant Mather (as Rockcliffe Fellowes)
Esther Howard	...	Josie
Monte Carter	...	Max Miller - Public Defender
Juliette Compton	...	Ambassador's Wife
G. Pat Collins	...	Pete - Detective
Phil Tead	...	Tony - Waiter
Davison Clark	...	Doctor
Tom Wilson	...	Night Court Attendant
James Durkin	...	Second Magistrate
William Arnold	...	Prosecutor

Storyline

A diplomat is blackmailed by crooked vice cops into helping them frame prostitutes.

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Genres:

Crime | Drama

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

30 May 1931 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

81 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Noiseless Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.20 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

One of over 700 Paramount Productions, filmed between 1929 and 1949, which were sold to MCA/Universal in 1958 for television distribution, and have been owned and controlled by Universal ever since.

User Reviews

Effective drama about moral choice

Intelligent drama benefits from literate script and a sensitive central performance by Paul Lukas, well cast as a diplomat blackmailed by corrupt vice cops into entrapping prostitutes. Lukas nicely balances a shabby gentility with despair as he's driven to drink in lowdown Greenwich Village dives to forget his "dirty" job. Choosing between sleek Kay Francis and blonde Judith Wood presents a romantic dilemma paralleling the moral decision he must make. Esther Howard--a longtime character actress and Preston Sturges favorite--here looks unrecognizably youthful as a salty-tongued artist's model.