October 16, 2020

CONVICT’S CODE (1939)

 

The less-than-famous Motion Pictures for Television, Inc. offered up this sixty-two-minute, quintessential forgotten film, directed by Lambert Hillyer and distributed by Monogram Pictures Corporation—known after 1953 as Allied Artists Pictures Corporation. It had no chance of garnering fans in a year of monumental productions. Hillyer chewed through one movie after another, ending his career with the successful television series, Highway Patrol. There is not much to say about this budget-constrained, well-acted crime film except that the plot is revealed in the first ten minutes. There is nothing about the cinematography or music score that has not been seen or heard before. Capitalizing on a Thirties trend, there may be scenes between two characters explaining what has happened or what is about to happen so the viewer will not be confused. However, confusion is not an issue with the obviously spelled-out screenplay by John Krafft.

THE FIRST TEN MINUTES

Former college football great, “Whizz Tyler,” played by Robert Kent, has spent the last three years in prison for a robbery he did not commit. Released on six-year parole, Kent is bent on finding those who railroaded him like racketeer Sidney Blackmer, for starters—whose secretary sounds like Betty Boop over the intercom. Blackmer bet heavily on a crucial college game and lost a bundle. He hires the parolee, an assured way of getting him out of his hair over the slightest parole violation.

Speaking of violations, Kent’s parole officer runs down his restrictions for the next half dozen years. The usual, like not changing his residence, associating with known criminals, driving without a driver’s license, and no guns or boozing. No one ever said he was a whizz at comprehension as he racks up more than enough violations to send him back to the slammer. But the only witnesses are the movie-goers. Finallythe real sticklerhe cannot marry unless the potential bride is approved by the parole board.

ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW AFTER TEN MINUTES

Blackmer is loved by everyone who does not really know him. A criminal manipulator, he does, however, have a beating heart. Anne Nagel adores her older brother. Personally, I was annoyed by her occasional monotonous pattern of pitch with words perfectly released as if she is cognizant of over-enunciating. Her steely-bright “esses” stinging her words. I digress. Blackmer’s first assignment for Kent is to make a delivery to Nagel’s home and he takes a shine to her right off the car's running board. There are inconsequential scenes in the movie at this point then the film wraps up briskly as Kent levels with Nagel about being framed. Being the gentleman he is, he does not reveal the person responsible. Knowing how much his sister loves the parolee, Blackmer tries to stop his bull-headed associate from following through with the “Whizz” hit. Everyone gets what and who they deserve in the end. Knowing the bloodline with a known criminal, Nagel hopes she gets a good marriage approval rating from the parole board.

Note: There are two actors of note, though for different reasons. Maude Eburne plays Kent’s landlady. An exhausted pessimist with a nasal delivery. Her performance may be the only fondly remembered moment in the film. She is the levity whether intentional or not. The other is Ben Alexander, who plays Kent’s long-time friend and newspaper sports writer. Alexander would later gain fame, and weight, as the first television partner to Sgt. Joe Friday on, “Dragnet.”

No comments:

Post a Comment