As you may have guessed from the film title, one of the main themes of this gangster flick is the difficulty ex-cons have in adjusting to the outside world, especially the perception that they are a dangerous person to employ or associate with. George Raft, as Cliff Taylor, a parolee, is featured as an example. He was released with high praise by the warden, yet experiences rejection by his ex-girlfriend, then by various prospective employers, as well as fellow employees, in some instances. When something went wrong, he was likely to be blamed, and fired.
The relationship between Cliff and fellow ex-con Chuck Martin(Humphrey Bogart) is complex. They were released from Sing Sing prison the same day, but with opposite attitudes about resuming their criminal career. Chuck said trying to go straight was so discouraging that it wasn't worth the effort. Cliff took the attitude that if he tried hard enough, he would eventually make it. Besides, he didn't want to draw his kid brother, Tim(William Holden) into a life of crime. But his experiences were so negative, he finally gave up and joined Chuck's gang in a number of bank robberies. In part, he did this to finance a garage for Tim, who presently was a grease monkey for another owner. From Tim's talk, Cliff was afraid he might embark on a spree of thievery.to finance his dream(Presumably, Tim didn't qualify for a standard loan to start his garage). ....
After Cliff collected enough money to finance Tim's garage, he told the gang that he was quitting, because he had enough money. They didn't much like this, but Chuck gave his OK. Chuck's gang then tried to rob a bank armored truck, but it went badly. They hopped in their cars, with police chasing. Chuck was wounded in the leg. One car rode into Tim's garage for cover. Chuck told Tim that Cliff was part of his gang(not true at this point), and had gotten the money for his garage by being such, not by selling tractors(true). Tim drove Chuck to a spot where his girlfriend Molly(Lee Patrick) was parked, to take him home. Tim returned to his garage, where police were waiting, and was arrested for aiding a robbery. Cliff got wind of this and arranged for the charge on Tim to be dropped if he identified the members of the gang. Cliff then went to see Chuck, twice. The second time, he offered to help get Chuck, with his bad leg, out of town. But, as soon as they got out of the door, several members of his gang started firing at them(I don't understand why?). I leave the finale for you to see.......
Cliff felt he owed Chuck a measure of loyalty, since he had included Cliff in a number of successful bank heists. However, where loyalty to Chuck conflicted with his goal of keeping Tim out of crime, he chose Tim over the gang. Perhaps I missed something, but I still don't understand why Chuck's gang turned against him in the end. To me, that's the main problem with the screenplay. Also, if you don't go for the idea that larceny is occasionally justified, you will have rejected one of the 2 main themes of the film.
Review of Invisible Stripes
