If all mobsters were as stupid as the dee's, dem's and doe's cliches presented here, then the D. A. of every big city would be able to put them behind bars the moment they stepped outside after committing the crime. For D. A. Jack Holt, he has the idea he can trap the killers of a police officer (members of the mob run by Douglas Dumbrille, posing as a highly respected philanthropist) by pinning the crime on someone else which brings the accused man's daughter (Marcia Ralston) out to accuse him of illegal practices which could put Holt in jail with members of the syndicate that he's been trying to crush. Dumbrille gets wind of what's been going on, and this puts Ralston in danger and makes Holt all the more desperate as the press gets wind of everything going on and justice becomes at risk for killing an innocent man.
Good performances by Holt anf Dumbrille (a veteran at playing sophisticated villains) and a clever script helps this rise above B mediocrity with a top notch production design from Columbia's art department. Twists help this move along cleverly, and subtle humor adds to the fun, with a running time of less than an hour keeping thos tight and filled with energy. With his bulldog face and tough talking personality, Holt is quite the most unusual of leading men, and Dumbrille is very subtle in revealing his character's darker sides. Ralston is a serviceable leading lady, pretty and tough, but her character is never fully fleshed out. There have been worst crime films made in the 1930's, and this one was a delight.
Good performances by Holt anf Dumbrille (a veteran at playing sophisticated villains) and a clever script helps this rise above B mediocrity with a top notch production design from Columbia's art department. Twists help this move along cleverly, and subtle humor adds to the fun, with a running time of less than an hour keeping thos tight and filled with energy. With his bulldog face and tough talking personality, Holt is quite the most unusual of leading men, and Dumbrille is very subtle in revealing his character's darker sides. Ralston is a serviceable leading lady, pretty and tough, but her character is never fully fleshed out. There have been worst crime films made in the 1930's, and this one was a delight.
