A second look at pre-Code classic Three on a Match (1932) includes an appraisal of early Humphrey Bogart movies, contemporary reaction, and a checklist of stars. Plus Warren William.
Behind the Green Lights (1935), Cops Vs. Mouthpiece in Mascot Indie
Based on a book by Captain Cornelius Willemse, the NYPD’s original “gang buster,” Behind the Green Lights pits the police vs. a crooked mouthpiece and features a romance between cop and lawyer. Easily found independent release is fast-paced and entertaining.
Lightning Review: Full Confession (1939) Starring Victor McLaglen
Brief look at RKO “B” movie Full Confession (1939) starring Victor McLaglen, Joseph Calleia, Sally Eilers, and Barry Fitzgerald, directed by John Farrow.
Show Them No Mercy (1935) Starring Rochelle Hudson and Cesar Romero
A band of kidnappers return to their hideout with $200,000 in ransom money in Show Them No Mercy. They find a stranded family at the house and have no choice but to hold them captive until they make sure the ransom money is good.
They Gave Him a Gun (1937) Starring Spencer Tracy, Gladys George, Franchot Tone
Story of romance and brotherhood spread across a movie neatly divided between the war and gangster genres. They Gave Him a Gun stars Spencer Tracy, Gladys George, and Franchot Tone. Released as MOD DVD-R by Warner Archive.
J. Edgar Hoover’s Persons in Hiding (1939) With Patricia Morison
A Bonnie and Clyde tale predating Gun Crazy (1950) by eleven years. Persons in Hiding is the first of four movies adapted from J. Edgar Hoover’s book of the same name. Electrifying debut by Patricia Morison with J. Carrol Naish strong opposite her.
Richard Dix Reckons Himself The Public Defender (RKO, 1931)
Richard Dix is a harmless playboy until trouble calls and with the assistance of Boris Karloff and Paul Hurst he becomes The Reckoner in RKO’s The Public Defender (1931).
The Walking Dead (1936) – Lindbergh Heart Resurrects Boris Karloff
Warner Brothers mixes crime and horror in THE WALKING DEAD where mobsters put down Boris Karloff but Edmund Gwenn brings him back to life with a Lindbergh Heart. Karloff’s fine performance highlighted along with some background information about Lindbergh’s “robot heart.”
G Men (1935) Starring James Cagney, Margaret Lindsay, and Ann Dvorak
A look at Warner Brothers’ G MEN (1935) starring James Cagney, this time as the good guy. Based on several real incidents and infamous names, it’s the movie that began the G-Men cycle of films.
Johnny Apollo (1940) starring Tyrone Power and Dorothy Lamour
Tyrone Power stars as Johnny Apollo (1940) for Henry Hathaway at 20th Century Fox. The film fits nicely between the 1930’s gangster cycle and later film noir. With Dorothy Lamour and Lloyd Nolan.