Midnight men take over a five o'clock town in this amusing comedy featuring some great visual gags along with the Damon Runyeon style writing. Lloyd Nolan is an easy going rackateer going through a small town who meets his match in judge Richard Carle, running a racket of his own to prevent the town from being taken over by a corrupt businessman determined to turn the town into a junk heap. Nolan decides to take over out of admiration for the way Carle runs things, and finds himself falling for smart but sweet Constance Moore while his right hand flunky Warren Hymer becomes the target of man crazy funny lady Vera Vague who suffers from hearing loss that results in more confusion. A twist involving the current defense issues adds a timely feeling that adds further poignancy.
There's plenty of funny situations amongst the tough but humorous dialog, plus a variety of amusing Runyeon style characters, including Albert Dekker, Edward Brophy, Charles Lane Nolan's rival, played with sophisticated mugness by Sheldon Leonard. It's the typical spoof of lovable tough guys with an emphasis on how the softer side comes out when they get taken in as suckers by presumed babes in the wood who are more than capable of handling things on their own. Pleasant and heart warming, while alternately street wise, this is filled with some truly fantastic character performances who will keep your funny bone very busy.
There's plenty of funny situations amongst the tough but humorous dialog, plus a variety of amusing Runyeon style characters, including Albert Dekker, Edward Brophy, Charles Lane Nolan's rival, played with sophisticated mugness by Sheldon Leonard. It's the typical spoof of lovable tough guys with an emphasis on how the softer side comes out when they get taken in as suckers by presumed babes in the wood who are more than capable of handling things on their own. Pleasant and heart warming, while alternately street wise, this is filled with some truly fantastic character performances who will keep your funny bone very busy.