An unsatisfactory movie, but it has its moments. To get the good things out of the way first: (1) A really effective scene in which the gang leader pays a visit to his operatives, the lights dramatically darkened as he enters the room. (2) Another right-on-the-ball shot as a villainess in maid's clothing throws an object from a hotel window to an accomplice on the street below. (3) A wonderfully captivating performance from Mischa Auer, who is at his creepy best as the chief villain's psychotic hit man.
The movie's bad points, unfortunately are legion. Worst is the lack of action at the climax, which, despite its surprise ending, is very tame indeed.
Almost as off-putting are the lack-luster portrayals delivered by both stolid hero John Holland and frowzy heroine Alice Day. Squat but smooth-talking Phillips Smalley makes a not uninteresting villain, though he lets the game down badly with a clumsy fall at the climax (which any other director but economy-minded Richard Thorpe would have re-shot).
True, the director is forced to work marvels with a penny-pinching budget that is often stretched to the limit, but the talky script isn't much help either. But the most disappointing feature of Richard Thorpe's lackadaisical direction, is that it signally lacks, aside from a couple of scenes, his customary vigor and pace. Thorpe doesn't even have the excuse of "early days" as he'd already directed dozens of movies at this stage of his career, including eight previous sound films
The movie's bad points, unfortunately are legion. Worst is the lack of action at the climax, which, despite its surprise ending, is very tame indeed.
Almost as off-putting are the lack-luster portrayals delivered by both stolid hero John Holland and frowzy heroine Alice Day. Squat but smooth-talking Phillips Smalley makes a not uninteresting villain, though he lets the game down badly with a clumsy fall at the climax (which any other director but economy-minded Richard Thorpe would have re-shot).
True, the director is forced to work marvels with a penny-pinching budget that is often stretched to the limit, but the talky script isn't much help either. But the most disappointing feature of Richard Thorpe's lackadaisical direction, is that it signally lacks, aside from a couple of scenes, his customary vigor and pace. Thorpe doesn't even have the excuse of "early days" as he'd already directed dozens of movies at this stage of his career, including eight previous sound films
