John Ford seems an unlikely choice to direct a screwball comedy starring EDWARD G. ROBINSON in a good guy/bad guy dual role as a meek accountant who is mistaken by the public (and the police) for hardened criminal Killer Mannion. Robinson is great in both roles, timid and ineffectual as the meek clerk (Edward Jones) and rough and tough as the crime boss. The scenes between the two Robinsons are extremely well handled for such an early flick. DONALD MEEK has an enjoyable supporting role as a restaurant patron who spots innocent Robinson at a nearby table and reports the find to the police, hoping to get the award money for Killer Mannion's capture.
JEAN ARTHUR is the bouncy office co-worker who becomes friends with Robinson and has a scary encounter with Killer Mannion, after which she tips off the police as to his whereabouts. There are plot turns involving Killer Mannion switching places with clerk Jonesy in order to manage the prison killing of another thug (EDWARD BROPHY). When Robinson's own criminal gang mistakes him for Jonesy in the final sequence, it makes way for a happy ending.
And speaking of happy endings, the last scene has Robinson, Arthur, his pet canary and black cat all steamship bound for Shanghai. Cozy, eh?
Nicely paced comedy/drama still works thanks to the expert direction and fun performances from JEAN ARTHUR, EDW. G. ROBINSON and especially DONALD MEEK, who gets his monetary reward too before the final credits.
Trivia note: Interesting to note that the story is based on something by W.R. Burnett (he wrote "Treasure of the Sierra Madre"). Doesn't seem like his type of material.
JEAN ARTHUR is the bouncy office co-worker who becomes friends with Robinson and has a scary encounter with Killer Mannion, after which she tips off the police as to his whereabouts. There are plot turns involving Killer Mannion switching places with clerk Jonesy in order to manage the prison killing of another thug (EDWARD BROPHY). When Robinson's own criminal gang mistakes him for Jonesy in the final sequence, it makes way for a happy ending.
And speaking of happy endings, the last scene has Robinson, Arthur, his pet canary and black cat all steamship bound for Shanghai. Cozy, eh?
Nicely paced comedy/drama still works thanks to the expert direction and fun performances from JEAN ARTHUR, EDW. G. ROBINSON and especially DONALD MEEK, who gets his monetary reward too before the final credits.
Trivia note: Interesting to note that the story is based on something by W.R. Burnett (he wrote "Treasure of the Sierra Madre"). Doesn't seem like his type of material.