classicsoncall Unbelievable and convoluted story elements make this a tough one to struggle through. It looks like I might be in the minority on this board, but I don't see a lot here to recommend the picture. Lowell Sherman provides about the only competence the film offers in his portrayal of crime boss Gene Fenmore. He has a great comeback to would be challenger Rocky (Hugh Trevor) for kingpin status - 'jealousy implies equality'. That's the way to put a guy in his place, and I think Rocky pretty much knew it too.As for the young couple at the heart of the story (Marian Nixon and William Janney), how clueless would you have to be to try and rob some high rollers in their own apartment? OK, they were trying to get their own money back, but Tommy (Janney) recognized the goon who robbed him, so why not just go to the cops? On second thought, that didn't always work out in these era stories either. Especially with an idiot District Attorney like the one here.With the old lights out trick used not once, but twice in the story, this one sort of muddles along until it finally peters out with Fenmore's confession. Which sort of defies credibility, because even though he was ultimately behind the jewel store robbery, a good lawyer would have gotten him off scot free with the inept Rocky calling the shots. But then again, he shot Rocky with no witnesses, even if it was self defense. Like Rocky said - "You can't be in this racket and have a code of ethics".

kidboots Tommy and Nancy are "spooning" in the park, and dreaming of getting married on their savings of $260. Nancy is played by Marian Nixon,a versatile actress, who specialised in "sweet young things". Tommy was played by William Janney, who I suspect was the older brother of Leon Janney, who made a couple of Penrod films in the early 1930s. They play their roles convincingly.They are overheard by Rocky (Hugh Trevor) who robs them. He is the right hand man of racketeer Gene Fenmore (Lowell Sherman). Gene is a "Robin Hood" as he steals from unscrupulous people and never resorts to any rough stuff or gun play. He is very classy but Rocky wants to run the show. Tommy and Nancy follow Rocky and attempt to hold up Gene and Rocky. After getting to the bottom of things Gene takes them under his wing. Nancy thinks Gene is a good person but Tommy is not so sure. A bit of cross promotion - the dance music at the night club is a selection from "The Cuckoos" which starred Hugh Trevor.The gang is planning a big job but as usual Gene wants no bloodshed. Rocky is determined to implicate Tommy as he has never forgiven him for the "phoney" stick-up. The jeweller is killed and when Gene and Rocky confront each other Rocky is killed. The other gang members, who are fed up with Gene's "gentlemanly" ways believe Gene cold bloodedly murdered Rocky. The police have been trying to capture Gene for years and by arresting "the kids" they hope to appeal to his better nature.Debonair Lowell Sherman is the whole show, although Hugh Trevor shows that he could have been a big star. Hugh Trevor was very handsome, could sing and had such a presence in this film. He had been a hit in "The Cuckoos" (1930) and "Half Shot at Sunrise" (1930) but he left films in 1931 to go back into the insurance business. He was still getting movie offers right up to his untimely death in 1933.

Ralph Michael Stein Another Alpha Video $4.99 DVD bringing a forgotten pre-WWII second (or third?) matinee feature to the DVD player.A young couple sits in a faux Central Park late at night contemplating their marriage the next day. Fortunately the lad has saved $260 towards their life together. But a real nasty bad guy overhears them and holds them up taking every dime.But...the almost groom recognizes the creep as a guy who hangs out in the building where he's a super's schlepper (that's NYC talk). So he and fiancee attempt to regain the money by armed robbery and blow it. They're captured by the gang.The gang, which does high values burglaries and robberies, is headed by a suave guy, Gene Foreman, played actually with some insight by Lowell Sherman who was at the tail end of his acting career. Perhaps he knew that: he seems genuinely sad throughout the film.Foreman eschews violence-he's a dapper dan in tails who gets leads to promising heists through wining and dining the rich. Foreman sort of adopts the young couple and the girl really likes him. Her boyfriend worries about losing this gem who intones "squeeze me" whenever she's scared, needs affectionate reassurance or both.The really nasty dude, Rocky, is murdered and the couple are the suspects. Foreman magnificently rises to the occasion, his acting transcending the limitations of predictable plot, sets less realistic than those on "The Honeymooners" and a supporting cast of deservedly unknowns.Fun flick from the past.5/10

tmpj The film is interesting more on account of its vintage than its plot. The acting is campy,stagey, hammy. The idea that a bunch of rowdies pillage and rob with no guns and no killings was probably just as absurd then as it seems today. However, this was likely the last appearance for Lowell Sherman in front of the camera. His style of acting seems to have become obsolete with the advent of talkies,possibly before. I am not certain who plays the role of Nancy. Incidentally, this film was remade a couple of years after Sherman's death with Richard Dix and an oily, villainous Eduardo Cianelli. That one was better, but even the acting and slightly better tech weren't enough to salvage the much outdated script and concept. However, if you just dig old celluloid, as I do, it's a worthwhile watch.