Kimble is working for and has befriended a former comedian who now runs a laundry, (Mickey Rooney). Mickey is actually in what we would now call witness protection after testifying against some mob people, who would not like to pay him back the hard way. Rooney's dream is to get back his wife, (Nita Talbot). She seems to have the same goal but then sells him out for the money they never had.
Rooney could be quite an actor when he wanted to be one and he plays this character like a violin. Talbot is perfect as his dream girl who turns out to be a nightmare. Philip Pine is the scout for the hit man. (Does he ever play a good guy?) Kimble is mostly on the sidelines here but suddenly seems like Iago when he warns his friend- just before he has to leave- to try to avoid the impending tragedy.
The title comes from Rooney's former profession: he was a comic who was playing the wrong joint at the wrong time, as well as from the inevitable result of that coincidence.
Rooney could be quite an actor when he wanted to be one and he plays this character like a violin. Talbot is perfect as his dream girl who turns out to be a nightmare. Philip Pine is the scout for the hit man. (Does he ever play a good guy?) Kimble is mostly on the sidelines here but suddenly seems like Iago when he warns his friend- just before he has to leave- to try to avoid the impending tragedy.
The title comes from Rooney's former profession: he was a comic who was playing the wrong joint at the wrong time, as well as from the inevitable result of that coincidence.