utgard14 Ladies man and gangster Lucky Wilson (Robert Montgomery) is shot by the police but manages to escape, driving into the country before passing out. He's found and taken in by a kindly family. They nurse Lucky back to health thinking he was the innocent victim of a gangster shoot-out. Gradually Lucky starts to fall for the pretty daughter (Maureen O'Sullivan) and has second thoughts about his criminal ways.Montgomery is at his charming best here. Even when he's bad, you can't help but like him. Lovely O'Sullivan was no stranger to taming wild men in films, obviously. She's one of the most likable actresses from the '30s and movies like this show why. Whitford Kane and Elizabeth Patterson are terrific as Maureen's pure, salt-of-the-earth parents. Mickey Rooney is fun as their son. Edward Arnold is great as the tough detective out to get Lucky (ha!). Muriel Evans is extremely sexy in her small part as nightclub singer Baby. Va-va-va-voom! It's a funny, sentimental film with a little bit of edge and a great cast. Give it a shot.

jotix100 "Hide Out" starts out focusing on a group of racketeers operating in Manhattan. We are introduced to Jonathan Wilson, who seems to be a key man to the organization. Jonathan is clearly a ladies' man, but his luck is about to change after he is seen pursuing the glamorous Baby. In a hilarious scene, Jonathan, has secured a ring side table to watch the beautiful Baby singing, as part of a night club act. He proceeds to ask her for a date that same night, without the singer missing a beat while she accepts his invitation. That also proves to be his own undoing because the police is closing after him.The second part of this comedy, directed with style by W. S. Van Dyke, concentrates in how Jonathan, who has been wounded when he tried to flee his pursuers, is found on the side of the road by a Connecticutt farmer, Henry Miller. He takes him home, where the whole family takes an interest in making him well. The lovely Pauline Miller, a young teacher, likes "Lucky", as Jonathan calls himself. Life in the farm works its magic in this man and transform him when he falls in love with the beautiful Pauline.Of course, we all know that crime doesn't pay, so when at the end of the film we see Det. MacCarthy come knocking on the Miller's door, we realize that Lucky must pay for his evil ways of the past, although he makes us feel, because of his transformation and the love he feels for the young woman, that somehow, he has vindicated himself by wanting to stay in the farm forever.Robert Montgomery's appearance in the film makes it even better than what it should have been. Mr. Montgomery is excellent in his scenes with Maureen O'Sullivan, who is perfect as the young Pauline Miller. Pauline Patterson and Whitford Kane are the older Millers, and Mickey Rooney, who was about thirteen, but looks much younger, makes a valuable contribution as Willie Miller. Edward Arnold, one of the best character actors working in films at that time, puts an appearance as Detective MacCarthy.The film, with a running time of 81 minutes, has the right length and involves us in it. W. S. Van Dyke directed with usual sure hand and got a lot out his great cast in this delightful film.

pmetzner I've become a big fan of Robert Montgomery since subscribing to TCM and hit the jackpot when he was Jan. star of the month. This is my favorite movie - the thirties had certain boiler plate plots (like every other decade) with the couple caught in the rain, the man realizes he loves her and doesn't take advantage, etc. but he was at his most charming in this movie and Maureen O'Sullivan is my favorite of his co stars. Even with the thirties hair styles and clothes she is a real beauty who would still be considered beautiful today, unlike some of the ladies of that time. I'll take the predictable romance with boy getting girl over so many current movies that are all digital effects, the couples are in bed by the second scene and there is nothing left to the imagination. I'm a little too young to have seen him in his prime and the few movies he made after the war didn't make him a romantic hero to me. But now I'm older and have more taste.

malcolmgsw With one or two well known exceptions from the pre code era MGM could not make a decent gangster film.The first 10 minutes were great.Montgomery puts the heat on night club owners and then is wounded fleeing the cops.He flees to the country and the film changes tack.It becomes a homily about the virtues of country life and how the beauty tames the beast.The last 10 minutes are a bit livelier.However the hour in between just drags along as the redemptive ways of the country eventually wear away the rough edges of Montgomery's character.I don't know what it is but the majority of Warners films of this era still have the ability to entertain and engage the mind.Films made by MGM seem to be encased in aspic and totally boring.