Post by Brad Nelson on Jun 9, 2020 18:15:08 GMT -8
Public Hero Number 1
This 1935 film is an interesting mix of gangster flick, cop drama, and romantic comedy. The plot is intriguing and fairly fast-moving, so just skip to watching it fresh on The Criterion Channel if you can.
Chester Morris plays Jeff Crane who is sharing a cell with Sonny Black (Joseph Calleia). We soon find out that Crane is a cop on deep cover trying to find the hideout and mastermind behind The Purple Gang which has roused public opinion against these thugs who are known to have killed a child as a result of their mayhem.
Meanwhile Crane runs into a blond broad, Maria Theresa O’Reilly. Jean Arthur could gives lessons in how to act like a broad-with-attitude while still making it seem real and while not being overtly annoying. She’s a peach in this film and definitely brings in the comic element, quite in contrast to the also stiff and also slightly-manic Jeff Crane. It’s not a formula for a crime movie that you think would work, until it does.
This is watchable pretty much from start to finish, the film clearly exceeding beyond its budget and bona fides, although big-name Lionel Barrymore does play a very engaging doctor who is a stark drunk. The major flaw is in yet another overly-gimmicky ending. And, good god, you would not want these police in charge of catching wild dogs, let alone gangsters. Of course they surround the house with a bazillion cops but still the main bad guy finds a way to just drive away.
But it’s all in good fun in a dramatic sort of way. The flaws are mostly charming flaws, not ones done from a complete lack of competence. This movie is a little different and is the better for it.
This 1935 film is an interesting mix of gangster flick, cop drama, and romantic comedy. The plot is intriguing and fairly fast-moving, so just skip to watching it fresh on The Criterion Channel if you can.
Chester Morris plays Jeff Crane who is sharing a cell with Sonny Black (Joseph Calleia). We soon find out that Crane is a cop on deep cover trying to find the hideout and mastermind behind The Purple Gang which has roused public opinion against these thugs who are known to have killed a child as a result of their mayhem.
Crane helps Black break out of prison and they go on the run with Crane checking in from time to time with his boss, James Duff, played wonderful stiff and slightly manic by Paul Kelly.
Meanwhile Crane runs into a blond broad, Maria Theresa O’Reilly. Jean Arthur could gives lessons in how to act like a broad-with-attitude while still making it seem real and while not being overtly annoying. She’s a peach in this film and definitely brings in the comic element, quite in contrast to the also stiff and also slightly-manic Jeff Crane. It’s not a formula for a crime movie that you think would work, until it does.
This is watchable pretty much from start to finish, the film clearly exceeding beyond its budget and bona fides, although big-name Lionel Barrymore does play a very engaging doctor who is a stark drunk. The major flaw is in yet another overly-gimmicky ending. And, good god, you would not want these police in charge of catching wild dogs, let alone gangsters. Of course they surround the house with a bazillion cops but still the main bad guy finds a way to just drive away.
But it’s all in good fun in a dramatic sort of way. The flaws are mostly charming flaws, not ones done from a complete lack of competence. This movie is a little different and is the better for it.
