Invisible Stripes (1939)

User Rating:

6.7/10   

Director:

Lloyd Bacon

Writers:

Warren Duff (writer)
Jonathan Finn (story)

Release Date:

30 December 1939 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama

Tagline:

Three Men and a Girl... Bound by Invisible Ties - Branded by Invisible Stripes

Plot:

Cliff and Chuck leave prison together. Cliff tries the straight life but falls back into crime with Chuck and his gang...

Plot Keywords:

Garage | Ex Convict | Sidecar | False Accusation | Shootout

Cast

George Raft	...	Cliff Taylor
Jane Bryan	...	Peggy
William Holden	...	Tim Taylor
Humphrey Bogart	...	Chuck Martin
Flora Robson	...	Mrs. Taylor
Moroni Olsen	...	The Warden
Henry O'Neill	...	Parole Officer Masters
Paul Kelly	...	Ed Kruger
Lee Patrick	...	Molly Daniels (Chuck's blonde)
Marc Lawrence	...	Lefty Sloan (henchman)
Joe Downing	...	Johnny Hudson (henchman) (as Joseph Downing)
Tully Marshall	...	Old Peter (inner prison gate trustee)
Margot Stevenson	...	Sue
Joseph Crehan	...	Mr. Chasen (garage owner)
Chester Clute	...	Mr. Butler

Runtime:

81 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Victor System)

Certification:

Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15 | USA:Approved (PCA #5755)

Filming Locations:

Sing Sing Penitentiary - 354 Hunter Street, Ossining, New York, USA

Company:

First National Pictures

Trivia:

Flora Robson was actually 6 years younger than George Raft, but played his mother.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When Tim is wheeling his motorcycle into the back of the garage after taking Chuck to meet his girlfriend, shadows of the police waiting inside are visible on the garage door, ruining the surprise that they are laying in wait for him.

Quotes:

Chuck Martin: They always put your picture in the paper when they grab ya, but they never do when they spring ya.

Soundtrack:

All in Favor Say 'Aye'

Underrated

Invisible Stripes (1938)

*** (out of 4)

Another Warner gangster film this time a gangster (George Raft) gets paroled and plans on going straight until he overhears his younger brother (William Holden) thinking about entering the racket so that his new wife can have a better life. To prevent that from happening Raft goes back into the racket with the help of #1 guy (Humphrey Bogart). Great performances and chemistry between Raft and Holden with good support from Bogart really pushes this one over the edge. The nice story and backslap at the parole board are interesting and the various shoot outs and bank robberies are filmed perfectly. A couple of The Dead End Kids (including Leo) have a funny cameo.