This little noir has all the hallmarks of a poverty row quickie, except it was made by a major studio, Universal. The cast includes A-list veterans: Ann Rutherford, Alan Curtis, Preston Foster, in supporting roles Milburn Stone, Samuel S. Hinds, Joe Sawyer, Howard Freeman (memorable two years later in "The Snake Pit" shaking his finger at Olivia de Havilland). Marc Lawrence pops in for a couple of scenes. I can only assume Universal assigned them to do their best for the back end of a double-bill. They walk through the material honestly and professionally. Ann Rutherford does make something of her role. She is, as usual, appealing and sympathetic. Everything proceeds routinely, until the end. The ending redeems the whole film. It actually makes it worth watching.
Claire and Eddie, the protagonists (Ann Rutherford and Alan Curtis) pull off a heist. The police are looking for them, as also is the criminal godfather (Preston Foster) who commissioned the job and would like to appropriate the swag. They hide, holed up in an apartment. They become friendly with their unsuspecting neighbors. There's a cute little boy, Skipper. They rescue his kite from the fire-escape and mend it. They wash his dog. They chat with his amiable caregiver (played by the great radio actress Ruby Dandridge) and his policeman father (Joe Sawyer). On the eve of their planned escape, of course, the godfather locates them. But he bumps into the resident cop. Bang, bang. Godfather is plugged fatally, cop seriously. Claire and Eddie give up their chance to get away. They care for the wounded officer until the other cops come and arrest them. Then the final scene. In the courtroom, they await the judge's (Samuel S. Hinds) sentence. Surely, he will be lenient - extenuating circumstances and all. He looks stern. But he speaks compassionately. "You have committed crime" (I paraphrase) "but you have shown decency. You have saved the life of an officer of the law." Therefore - he sentences them to the maximum. Sorry, losers, society does not admit pity. What a sublime message! It's so jarring it's beautiful. It's so didactic it's wonderful. O theater audience beware, before you finish your popcorn. Delve not into crime. Law is inflexible. We who rule know no mercy. Marvelous! (Parole, you're thinking? Their only indictable crime is robbery, not even armed robbery, since no weapon was used. But I wouldn't bet on the parole board in this jurisdiction. Here even the Monopoly games have no get-out-of-jail-free cards. You can't save your little top-hat or flat-iron here.)
Claire and Eddie, the protagonists (Ann Rutherford and Alan Curtis) pull off a heist. The police are looking for them, as also is the criminal godfather (Preston Foster) who commissioned the job and would like to appropriate the swag. They hide, holed up in an apartment. They become friendly with their unsuspecting neighbors. There's a cute little boy, Skipper. They rescue his kite from the fire-escape and mend it. They wash his dog. They chat with his amiable caregiver (played by the great radio actress Ruby Dandridge) and his policeman father (Joe Sawyer). On the eve of their planned escape, of course, the godfather locates them. But he bumps into the resident cop. Bang, bang. Godfather is plugged fatally, cop seriously. Claire and Eddie give up their chance to get away. They care for the wounded officer until the other cops come and arrest them. Then the final scene. In the courtroom, they await the judge's (Samuel S. Hinds) sentence. Surely, he will be lenient - extenuating circumstances and all. He looks stern. But he speaks compassionately. "You have committed crime" (I paraphrase) "but you have shown decency. You have saved the life of an officer of the law." Therefore - he sentences them to the maximum. Sorry, losers, society does not admit pity. What a sublime message! It's so jarring it's beautiful. It's so didactic it's wonderful. O theater audience beware, before you finish your popcorn. Delve not into crime. Law is inflexible. We who rule know no mercy. Marvelous! (Parole, you're thinking? Their only indictable crime is robbery, not even armed robbery, since no weapon was used. But I wouldn't bet on the parole board in this jurisdiction. Here even the Monopoly games have no get-out-of-jail-free cards. You can't save your little top-hat or flat-iron here.)