Tear Gas Squad (1940)

Nightclub singer becomes police cadet to impress blond female from police family, ends up with her current dating partner as his cadet trainer.

Director:

Terry O. Morse

Writers:

Charles Belden, Don Ryan,

Stars:

Dennis Morgan, John Payne, Gloria Dickson

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Dennis Morgan	...	Tommy McCabe
John Payne	...	Bill Morrissey
Gloria Dickson	...	Jerry Sullivan
George Reeves	...	Joe McCabe
Frank Wilcox	...	Sgt. Crump
Herbert Anderson	...	Pliny Jones
Julie Stevens	...	Lois
Harry Shannon	...	Lt. Sullivan
Mary Gordon	...	Mrs. Sullivan
William Gould	...	Capt. Henderson
John Hamilton	...	Chief Ferris
Edgar Buchanan	...	Cousin Andy
Dick Rich	...	Cousin Pat
William Hopper	...	George (as DeWolf Hopper)
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
James Cagney	...	Rocky Sullivan (archive footage)

Storyline

Druggist Joe McCabe foils a robbery, and his brother Tommy decides to join the state police in order to impress Joe and Tommy's new date, Jerry, a policeman's daughter. When the robbers exact revenge on Joe, Tommy hunts them down.

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Plot Keywords:

police | brother | revenge | singer | nightclub | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

4 May 1940 (USA)

Also Known As:

State Cop

Filming Locations:

Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros

Technical Specs

Runtime:

55 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Despite the title, tear gas is not mentioned until five minutes before the end of this film, it is not used until two minutes before the end, and there is no actual tear gas squad. Tear gas is just a weapon coincidentally used by regular police offers.

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Goofs

McCabe and Jones are shown in a two-shot seated on their adjacent motorcycles, but on the cut to a wide shot showing the entire motorcycle squad, Jones is not one of the riders.

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Connections

Edited from Angels with Dirty Faces (1938)

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Soundtracks

"Put That Down in Writing"
(uncredited)
Music by Harry Warren
Played at the Monterey Tavern when George asks Lois to Dance

User Reviews

Slam Bang Pow!

Sure it's a "B" film but it has class all the way! From start to finish, snappy dialogue, great performances and a near breathless pace! Nobody could make 'em like Warner's!

Morgan starts out as a wise-ass and get's himself busted from the force. When his brother is murdered by by the hoods he had a part in busting in a robbery attempt earlier... Quoting Bugs Bunny: "Of course you know this means WAR!" Later Superman star, George Reeves puts in an excellent performance as Morgan's druggist Brother.

An excellent supporting cast keeps this film running at a breakneck pace! This film has "A" written all over it and is a "must see". I can't praise it too highly!

I could go on and on, but you should see it for yourselves and decide!