Below the Deadline (1946) User Reviews

Nice Little Noir

[boblipton · 6/10 · 3 December 2021]

Warren Douglas is back from the war and prepared to take over his dead brother's night club. The mobbed-up guys who have been running it are not keen on the idea, but he settles them with his fists. He thinks he's paid his dues and is ready to get fat, but when it turns out that he's been using underage girls in the racy shows, and falls in love with Ramsay Ames, his conscience revives. THen it turns out his brother isn't dead.

It's a Monogram movie directed by William Beaudine, so you probably wouldn't expect it to be very good. It's not great, but it is a solid little noir, thanks to a decent script (co-written by Ivan Tors), and a cast good enough to get it on the first take, even on Monogram's uninspiring budgets.

Not bad, for a One Shot Beaudine film

[gordonl56 · 7/10 · 16 February 2015]

BELOW THE DEADLINE – 1946

This one is above the norm for a film from bottom-feeder studio, MONOGRAM. It is a reasonably brisk crime programmer with more than a few snappy lines. The lack of comedy relief also works in its favour and there are a few noir like bits here and there.

This one starts out with gambling rackets boss, George Meeker being warned to stay away from a rival's clubs. Of course the viewer knows this is going nowhere good for Mister Meeker. And right they are, as Meeker is given a severe lead overdose one night exiting a club.

Now we have the just returned from the Air Force, Warren Douglas, putting in an appearance. Douglas is the brother of the just ventilated, Meeker. He grills the mob lawyer, Paul Maxey for all the info on the mob, and who was responsible for his brother's death. Maxey suggests Douglas cool down and learn the business before he goes headhunting.

Douglas does just that, and quickly steps into his brother's shoes. He knocks a few heads in his brother's mob to show who the new boss is. The main suspect for his brother's death is gambling rival, Phillip Van Zandt. Lawyer Maxey is quite sure of this even though he has no proof.

Douglas is soon running a tight ship as he straightens out any problems with a swift punch to the head, and a boot to the proper place. He soon falls for one of the dealers at one of his clubs. Ramsay Ames plays the long drink of water that attracts Douglas. Miss Ames has all the curves in all the right places, and soon falls for the rugged Douglas.

The local election for mayor is coming up, and a reform candidate is running on a ticket to close down all the gambling clubs. The candidate, George Eldredge, warns Douglas he will be coming after him and his ilk if he wins. Douglas makes peace with rival Van Zandt so they can help fund the candidate against the reform ticket.

Around this time an Air Force buddy, Bruce Edwards, hits Douglas up for a 50 large loan to start up an air freight outfit. The two come close to blows while discussing Douglas current "business activities". Miss Ames is likewise not all that happy with Douglas getting deeper into the life. She pulls the plug on their relationship.

Election time rolls around and the reform ticket wins due to some last minute financial help. Douglas looks into where the cash came from, and finds that it was his Air Force pal, Edwards.

Douglas takes a few of the boys to pay Edwards a visit at the air freight office. What he finds is Miss Ames working as Edward's assistant. Edwards and Douglas now have words over Edwards helping the new mayor. This dispute ends quickly when Van Zandt and his crew arrive. They had also discovered that Edwards was the money behind the reform ticket. They intend to apply a little bit of "lead" therapy.

Douglas of course has a change of heart now that guns are pulled. Lead flies with Douglas being badly wounded. The Police make a just in time appearance and haul away the nasty types. When Douglas recovers, he joins Edwards and Ames in the business. He is through with crime.

I must admit I was not expecting much here, given the level of director William "One Shot" Beaudine's usual work. "One Shot" was known for seldom taking retakes. Low end studios such as MONOGRAM and PRC loved this, as it saved them cash on film stock.

Cinematographer Harry Neumann gives the film a nice look with a decent selection of black and greys. Neumann was a long serving MONOGRAM hand known mostly for westerns and some CHARLIE CHAN films. Film noir fans know his work from the low budget, HUNTED, A BULLET FOR JOEY, THE PHENIX CITY STORY, CALLING HOMICIDE, CHAIN OF EVIDENCE and MY GUN IS QUICK.

Ramsay Ames is a quite striking looking brunette, with as stated, plenty of curves in the right places. She was on screen between 1943 and 63. This was one of the few leading roles she had.

A quick 65 minute time-waster.

I wasn't as crazy about it as some

[blanche-2 · 6/10 · 18 May 2015]

...but there were some interesting elements to "Below the Deadline" from 1946.

This is an almost noir from Monogram directed by William "One Shot" Beaudine. The studios must have loved him.

This movie dealt the problems of a returning veteran, Joe Hilton (Warren Douglas). Certainly this has been explored in films such as "The Best Years of Our Lives," but I liked this take.

A gangster (Philip Van Zandt) dispatches two thugs to to threaten Jeff Hilton (George Meeker), using Jeff's attorney (Paul Maxey) in order to keep him from muscling in on certain rackets.

Jeff's girlfriend (Jan Wiley) convinces him to go out on his own and forget about the mobsters. We know what happens next, he's iced.

When his war hero brother Joe returns from service, seeing that his brother has been killed, he takes over his rackets. He wants revenge not only for his brother, but for these gangsters who made money on the black market while he was "eating out of cans covered with lice" and fighting for his country. Don't blame him.

He takes up with a woman (Ramsay Ames), who works in one of the clubs.

Short and not bad, and I wasn't familiar with the work of Ramsay Ames before this. She was a staggeringly beautiful woman -- and very modern looking -- someone else on this site mentioned that as well. She had a very "today" look. Apparently a lot of men fell off of catwalks at the studios trying to get a gander at her. She was multitalented - a former model and dancer-singer who had her own interview show in Spain. She was married to Man of La Mancha playwright Dale Wasserman.

Decent film, with some familiar faces who later worked a lot in TV, including Paul Maxey, Phillip Van Zandt, and the star, Warren Douglas, who became a writer and producer as well as an actor.

Somebody will probably designate this one as film noir.

[horn-5 · 12 April 2006]

Why not... since it's in black-and-white, made in the 40's and has a crime theme. At that, it fits better than most now residing under that genre.

This'un has gangster Oney Kessel (Philip Van Zandt) sending two of his henchies (Charles Sullivan and Meyer Grace)to threaten Jeff Hilton (George Meeker), through Jeff's attorney, Arthur Brennan (Paul Maxey,) in an effort to stop Jeff's muscling in on Kessel's rackets. Jeff disregards the threat, and he is killed when his girl friend Vivian (Jan Wiley)talks him into going out without his mobsters, Nichols (Clancy Cooper) and "Pinky" (John Harmon.) Brennan calls in Jeff's brother Joe (Warren Douglas), a returned veteran, who takes over the 26-game racket (six dice in a bucket)as revenge against civilians who made money in the black market while he was fighting for his country. Joe beats up night-club owner Kane (George Lloyd), one of his 26-game operators, to stop him from holding out game-table receipts under pressure from the Kessel syndicate. Joe also takes up with Lynn Turner (Ramsay Ames), one of his 26-game operators (but really a nice girl when all's said and done...and stacked like nobody's business), but warns her not to try and reform him.

Reform candidate-for-mayor Vail (George Eldredge) is refused a campaign donation by Joe, who is backing the crooked incumbent Turner (Alan Bridge.) But Joe's war buddy Sam Austin (Bruce Edwards)talks Joe into backing Vail, and this serves to break the truce between Joe's gang and Kessel's hirelings and henchies...and a gang war breaks out.

The loser dies and the winner reforms. Ramsay Ames and Jan Wiley make it worth while, and George Meeker and his slickest-in-the-business moustache cash in early and that is also a plus.

Politics, gambling and a pilot are at the center of this noir.

[cgvsluis · 4/10 · 8 December 2023]

To be honest, I am not sure where the title comes from...but I do know this is kind of unusual in that a war hero comes home to take over his deceased brothers gambling business. The two were not close and airforce pilot "jumpin Joe" had a lot to learn to take over the reigns from his brother Jeff. Thankfully he had one employee, Pinky, who is happy to see him step in. And initially he had to do it with his fists...but he has an attitude that while he was away fighting that there were men who stayed home and got rich, and now it's his turn. He meets a sweet young girl named Lynn, who is underaged and working in one of his clubs. When a fellow friend and soldier returns and tries to convince him to partner with him in an airline...will the two of them be able to convince Joe to get out of his racket.

Definitely a b film and not the best of noirs, but interesting nonetheless. I think Noir fanatics will enjoy giving it a watch. My favorite character by far is Pinky, played by John Harmon. The last shot of him at the airport is priceless.

War Hero Becomes Gangster: Designated Noir

[TheFearmakers · 7/10 · 27 April 2023]

Little known or discussed Gangster Film Noir where our main man "Jumpin' Joe" Hilton is just that... And in the role, Warren Douglas is perfect. He seems ready for anything and yet is cool as that proverbial cucumber... in an ice box: Just returned from World War II, having inherited his slain, more proper and distinguished (and pretentious) older brother's gambling outfit, he's got just about everything, literally...

Including a beautiful young dame in Ramsay Ames's Lynn, going from a roulette wheel worker to the girl who chips at his icy heart... Which is what makes Joe a worthy Noir persona, initially moving forward like a shark: But as cold-blooded as he may be, his recent-past... which had lasted five grueling years... provides a light at the end of the tunnel...

Joe keeps repeating the fact that, when he was in the Pacific, knee deep in a trench, other men were getting "fat" back here, back home - and now it's his chance. Which is what 99% of BELOW THE DEADLINE is... Joe's turn at bat with a game pretty much rigged in his favor, with a few important exceptions...

With a title that sounds cool enough, it hardly fits the storyline here. There's no real DEADLINE or urgency weighing Joe down. Plus the whole "crime doesn't pay" Noir Commandment is out the door from the start since the money's inherited ten minutes in... It's more a "Crime's Already Paid, So Now What?" kind of thing (and he's not a "disillusioned" returning soldier... he wants the dream i.e. Tons of moneyt but not legally!)...

But before he arrives, the prologue feels like a short film that has a nifty beginning, middle and end as Joe's classy, thin-mustached brother throws caution to the wind, entering the villain's territory while taking over particular locations from his cozy office (like, decades later, James Caan running things badly while his more patient and logical war hero younger brother waits unknowing in the wings)...

It's during these ten minutes we meet the company's faithful fat cat lawyer/advisor and an even more faithful accountant, and our second woman on board - the bad of the token Noir angel and devil dame twosome. Later on, Jan Wiley's gold digging Vivian becomes Joe's port once the nice girl can't handle the inevitable storm, and the fact her man keeps dismissing advice from a former war buddy, who, wanting Joe in on a straight business venture involving airplanes, has his heart in the right place but is actually quite lofty and downright annoying...

A double triangle - Joe and the two girls, and Joe and the good girl and his buddy doesn't amount to much, but it fills the time nicely enough, teetering in-between... Meanwhile, the boss keeps moving ahead, busting heads, proving he's in charge; and then in a more professional, non-violent manner, he tries to square things with his former rival since an antagonistic (to the mob, making him, technically, an overall protagonist) mayor could be elected...

His number one campaign promise is to delete Joe's particular trade as DEADLINE is a lean, mean yet still mellow and slowburn vehicle without red-herring distractions, convenient detours, perpetual twists and turns, too many complications or annoying self-doubts: And while Warren Douglas's character is far from being a movie-household name, in any genre, perhaps he should be. Then again that'd run what he's all about: too quick for anyone to hang a sign on, and too comfortable to give a damn about it.

brother takes over the biz

[ksf-2 · 5/10 · 8 March 2022]

Looks like that title has been used numerous times over the years, in both silents and talkies. With various writers and plots. This one is pretty cheesy. It's from monogram pictures, the low budget experts. Serviceman joe (warren douglas) comes home from war, and steps into his brother's business; the shady gambling operations. But when his girl (ramsay ames) and his army buddy try to get him to go straight, he doesn't want any part of it. And keeps getting into fist fights. I guess they left their guns at home. It's clearly a low dollar deal. Aint no thang. Directed by bill beaudine.

B-Movie Director William Beaudine in Fine Form with Borderline Film-Noir

[LeonLouisRicci · 8/10 · 20 January 2015]

The More You Watch the Films of B-Movie Director William "One Shot" Beaudine the More You Appreciate the Man's Efficient Style and Flare. In this Monogram Quickie with Film-Noir Overtones there can be Found Noir Lighting Pattern Flourishes and Hard-Knuckle Fisticuffs.

Also, the Nightclub Scenes are Effective and Somewhat Sleazy, as is the Gaming Racket and Gang Rivalry that Keeps the Thing on the Edge. It is a Bit too Conventional in its Rap Up to be Pure Noir, it Nevertheless Engages Throughout its 65 Minute Running Time with Nods to Income Tax and Politics.

The Look is B-Movie Great and the Cynical Protagonist Returning from the War Where He was a Pilot Gives Free-Rein for the Script Writer to Banter with Wartime-Jargon that is a Hoot. For Example a Bar is Referred to as a "Fuel Dump" and Leaving a Lover is Called "Bailing Out".

Beyond Competent the Movie Rises to Must See Status for Fans of Film-Noir, B-Movies, WWII Aficionados, as Well as Those Looking for Some Mid-Forties Thrills on the Cheap.

A magnetic performance by Ramsay Ames

[jarrodmcdonald-1 · 16 January 2015]

I am not too particularly interested in whether this movie is classified as a film noir, but it's safe to call it a crime programmer from a poverty row studio. And despite its limited budget, BELOW THE DEADLINE is fairly well made and captures the attention of viewers.

The story exploits the idea that men coming back from the war had to assimilate into their communities and return to work again. The type of work the main character takes up here is barely legal, and the whole idea (while a bit preachy) is that he could be doing something more honorable after his strong service record.

What makes this cheapie stand out is the presence of leading lady Ramsay Ames, whose striking beauty transcends the era. In fact, her magnetic presence in this picture helps carry us over the less exciting stretches of the narrative. For the most part, however, the story is quite well paced. We see the business angle play out involving the election, and we also see a turf war going on between the anti-hero and the antagonist. But we also get nice extended sequences where the love story is allowed to develop.

The romantic aspects are successfully conveyed, so much that when we reach the point where Ames' character breaks things off with the soldier-turned-gambler we want them to reunite. We feel something for them, despite the fact they are not entirely good. That's the power of cinema-- putting us into the story, making us empathize with characters that would ordinarily deserve a much worse outcome than the screenwriters have seen fit to give them.

Despite a mostly no-name cast and it coming from Monogram, it's a dandy film.

[planktonrules · 8/10 · 13 October 2023]

When I see a film was made by Monogram Studio, I usually assume it's going to be a low-budgeted stinker. Of course, there some exceptions, such as their Charlie Chan series and a few others, but generally the studio's name was NOT one associated with quality! So, when I saw this no-name cast in a Monogram picture, I naturally thought it would be adequate at best. Boy, was I wrong!

When the story begins, two thugs are fighting over the number racket. One thinks he's a lot smarter than he is and is soon killed. Soon, his brother arrives in town...fresh from WWII and the Army Air Corps. Despite his great reputation as a war hero, he's very happy to step into his brother's shoes as head of that racket. The rest of the film consists of Joe (Warren Douglas) trying to convince everyone, including himself, that he's a tough jerk. What's next for this tough guy? See the film and find out for yourself.

Warren Douglas was terrific in the film and having an actor without a familiar face worked well...helping to make the story seem credible. Excellent writing also help with this one. My only quibble, and boy is it minor, is that the ending is just TOO perfect! Still, it showed that even Monogram could make a dandy film...on occasion.