This "B"-grade crime melodrama starring Charles Bickford and Doris Nolan, and featuring some of our favorite supporting actors including John Litel, Paul Guilfoyle, Samuel S. Hinds and Robert Emmett Keane, just makes a slightly above average support. It's one of those movies with a catchy title that most people not only came late for, but were jolly pleased to find that they hadn't missed anything of great value, entertainment-wise. Harold Schuster's direction is certainly not classy. The best we can say is that he is reasonably competent. On the other hand, George Robinson handled the photography and it is really great! But, as long as they can see an image, most people don't give a hang about photography – which is a shame! Other credits are up to the usual Universal "B" standard.
3 Reviews
The marriage was over before it started
mark.waltz5 July 2022
Warning: Spoilers
This acceptable B programmer is just one of probably 100 crime dramas made in 1939 alone, and one of eight films that Charles Bickford starred in that year. You would think by the way this film starts that it is a comedy, and indeed, it does seem silly. Bickford shows up to arrest John Litel simply to prevent him from marrying his ex-girlfriend, Doris Nolan. But Nolan has her own ideas, and that is to get proof that Litel is one of the higher-ups in organized crime, guilty of murder, with the goal of exposing the whole racket.
Bickford, playing both gangsters and cops in 1939, seemed the same in both types of roles, and obviously realize this by the time he made "Song of Bernadette" four years after this which is when he started playing parts with more layers. But audiences obviously loved these type of tough guys that had no glamor (where else would you see Barton MacLane in a lead role?), so he ended up typecast for years.
This film is no better or worse than the many B crime films of the era, with black actor Jack Carr quite good in a dual role as two brothers who work for Litel. Nolan's character is suspect number one when a murder is committed, and it's made obvious that she has no interest in cooperating with her ex, increasing the likelihood that she's guilty. It's these elements of the movie that gives it a uniqueness I hadn't seen in other similar films. These types of films thankfully only ran about an hour so there's no regret in watching them I'm thinking you've seen it all before when you haven't.
Bickford, playing both gangsters and cops in 1939, seemed the same in both types of roles, and obviously realize this by the time he made "Song of Bernadette" four years after this which is when he started playing parts with more layers. But audiences obviously loved these type of tough guys that had no glamor (where else would you see Barton MacLane in a lead role?), so he ended up typecast for years.
This film is no better or worse than the many B crime films of the era, with black actor Jack Carr quite good in a dual role as two brothers who work for Litel. Nolan's character is suspect number one when a murder is committed, and it's made obvious that she has no interest in cooperating with her ex, increasing the likelihood that she's guilty. It's these elements of the movie that gives it a uniqueness I hadn't seen in other similar films. These types of films thankfully only ran about an hour so there's no regret in watching them I'm thinking you've seen it all before when you haven't.
Short fast-paced and satisfying crime drama
AlsExGal11 December 2011
Nobody has "one hour to live" in this film, and it was likely named as such to bring in audiences. Instead it is a one-hour fast-paced crime drama film about crusading cop Sid Brady (Charles Bickford) and his battle to bring gangster Rudolph Spain (John Litel) to justice. To make matters worse, Rudy has just married Sid's girl (Doris Nolan as Muriel). In fact, Sid's latest arrest of Rudy comes at the end of their wedding ceremony and the beginning of the film. The problem is, Rudy is not at the end of the line in this criminal pyramid scheme. There is someone higher - a "Mr. Big" - that seems to be pulling the strings and keeping Rudy one step ahead of the law. Catching this so-far anonymous Mr. Big is Brady's real goal.
Bickford always gave a hard-hitting performance and Litel was good as both bad and good guys, always playing it smooth and sophisticated, which serves him well in this role as the killer who always knows what fork to use. The welcome surprise in this one is Jack Carr in a dual role as twins - a fighter who works for Rudy and his brother who is his butler.
All in all this one is quite satisfying for fans of old B crime dramas. The one thing that is left open is why exactly Sid's girlfriend thinks that marrying a suspected - and likely - killer is a good move just because she wants to get back at Sid. If Sid is right and she burns the toast once she winds up in a cement overcoat. If Sid is wrong she is tied for life to a rather dull guy she doesn't love. How does all of this play out? Watch and find out. I think you'll enjoy it.
Bickford always gave a hard-hitting performance and Litel was good as both bad and good guys, always playing it smooth and sophisticated, which serves him well in this role as the killer who always knows what fork to use. The welcome surprise in this one is Jack Carr in a dual role as twins - a fighter who works for Rudy and his brother who is his butler.
All in all this one is quite satisfying for fans of old B crime dramas. The one thing that is left open is why exactly Sid's girlfriend thinks that marrying a suspected - and likely - killer is a good move just because she wants to get back at Sid. If Sid is right and she burns the toast once she winds up in a cement overcoat. If Sid is wrong she is tied for life to a rather dull guy she doesn't love. How does all of this play out? Watch and find out. I think you'll enjoy it.
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