The Tip-Off (1931)

Director:

Albert S. Rogell

Writers:

George Kibbe Turner (story)
Earl Baldwin (writer)

Release Date:

16 October 1931 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime

Tagline:

This is station L-O-V-E

Plot:

Eddie Quillan falls in love with a gangster's girlfriend but avoids trouble when he becomes friends with Robert Armstrong and his girlfriend

Plot Keywords:

Boxer | Gangster | Attempted Murder | Charity Ball | Jealousy

Cast

Eddie Quillan	...	Thomas 'Tommy' Jordan
Robert Armstrong	...	Kayo McClure
Ginger Rogers	...	Baby Face
Joan Peers	...	Edna Moreno
Ralf Harolde	...	Nick Vatelli
Mike Donlin	...	Swanky Jones
Ernie Adams	...	Slug McGee
Charles Sellon	...	Pop Jackson
Helen Ainsworth	...	Miss Ethel Waddums (as Cupid Ainsworth)

Also Known As:

Eddie Cuts In (USA) (working title)
Looking for Trouble (UK)
The Lady Killer (USA) (working title)
The Tip Off (USA) (poster title)

Runtime:

71 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Photophone System)

Company:

RKO Pathé Pictures

Soundtrack:

SOMEBODY STOLE MY GAL

A gangster comedy-drama with some good moments and Ginger Rogers in any early role.

A moderately funny crime comedy I found pretty satisfying, mostly from seeing Ginger Rogers in such an early role. The stars, however, are Eddie Quillan and Robert Armstrong, both billed above the title, with Quillan playing a radio repairman and Armstrong playing a boxer with an upcoming middleweight championship fight. Seeing Eddie Quillan billed first surprised me, since I never knew he attained that measure of stardom. But he does have a good rapport with the camera and I enjoyed his performance. Although my focus was on Rogers, playing Armstrong's sweetie and a flirt, the film's focus was on Quillan. This performance provides the suspense and drama which is sustained nicely through the last half of the film. All in all, the movie is somewhat enjoyable.