Missing Evidence (1939) User Reviews

The Sweepstakes ticket racket

[bkoganbing · 5/10 · 30 May 2020]

With so many states now using lotteries as revenue sources one can hardly believe at one time it was forbidden. FBI man Preston Foster enlists hatcheck girl Irene Harvey in his investigation after her friend elevator operator Oscar O'Shea commits suicide after being told his winning ticket was counterfeit.

This is a steady and workmanlike B film that moves slowly oward nailing the top man. Eon't say who he is, but he's no dummy.

A solid film credit to all involved.

Phoney Sweepstakes Ticket Racket

[boblipton · 5/10 · 15 May 2020]

Preston Foster is a G-man, on the trail of sweepstakes tickets. He tromps pretty hard on the toes of Irene Hervey, who's been selling them, looking for the higher ups. Like many people she thinks there's nothing with people having a flutter..... until it turns out she's been selling counterfeit tickets. The people she sells them to don't have a chance in a million; they have no chance at all.

It's a Universal Picture, so you know there will be some gloss in this B movie, as well as a good cast, including Inez Courtney, Chick Chandler and Oscar O'Shea. It's no world-beater by any meanings, but it's a fast-paced 70 minutes directed by high-speed director Phil Rosen.

More sweepstakes fraud.

[mark.waltz · 6/10 · 6 July 2022]

Universal dealt with the same racket in "Undercover Agent", also released in 1939. Same subject doesn't mean that it has to have the same story, and the results of this one are pretty good. Preston Foster is the dream man out to break up this racket and he finds aid with the assistance of Irene Hervey who has been selling them at her cigarette stand, not realizing that they are illegal and phony. He arranges for her to leave her job and get employment with the racket, and in collecting evidence, it is obvious that this illegal racket that swindles innocent people (and drove one person to suicide) will be blown out of the ping pong ball air aquarium.

Fast moving and action packed, this is one of many films about rackets released in 1939, and outside of the big A pictures one of the best. Foster and Courtney are good together with Chick Chandler, Inez Courtney and Noel Madison good in supporting roles under the direction of Philip Rosen. Newsreel footage at the beginning kissing indication of how this record started. The generic title doesn't really describe the plot very well, as it really is no evidence that is found or missing or even in plain sight.

Proof that not all B-movies are bad...in fact, this one's awfully good.

[planktonrules · 8/10 · 8 February 2021]

"Missing Evidence" is ample proof that the term 'B-movie' is not synonymous with 'bad or cheap'. Somehow there's been the assumption over the years that Bs are crappy films, but this one sure isn't! It's tense, well written and the production, over all, is awfully good.

The story is about a crime that seems pretty mundane...sweepstakes tickets. While the film makes it clear that back in 1939 it was illegal to sell them (such as the famous Irish Sweepstakes tickets), the real problem is that so many of these illegally sold tickets in the States are actually counterfeit...and agent Bill Collins (Preston Foster) is out to infiltrate the gang selling them. His partner in this is highly unlikely...a woman who herself has been selling these phony tickets (Irene Hervey)!

While this plot doesn't sound all that exciting, the film really did a great job of providing tension and suspense. Running at only a little over an hour, it clearly is a B-movie....but one better than many A pictures of the day.