Despite the promise of its advertising catch-line ("These girls left home to find fame and fortune, but instead found shame and disgrace!"), the title of this film is actually a catch-all pun. After a brief nod in the direction of the missing girls the title implies, the screenplay then weaves a lengthy tale around illegal gambling and the role of an honest, investigative reporter (Roger Pryor), before focusing on two young ladies who are accidentally kidnapped by gangsters. When they reach their "safe house", the gang puts the girls to work washing dishes and ironing clothes.
This sudden spurt of action comes to a well-staged climax. But the main burden of the story aims a two-pronged attack on gambling syndicates and on the injustice of grand juries who compel reporters to disclose the sources of their information.
Although Rosen's indifferent direction muffles the attack, it's obvious former New York newspaperman, Martin Mooney, is trying to get a few things off his chest in this movie, for which a far more accurate title would be "Grand Jury Injustice!" Suitable catch-cries might then revolve around "Fearless Reporter Jailed for Telling the Truth! Grand Juries Run Amok! To Spite Congress and F.B.I., Callous Grand Jury and Obdurate Judge Send Reporter to Jail!"
Aside from Lloyd Ingraham, most of the acting is unimpressive. Ingraham is excellent in his very brief role as the unyielding judge who "upholds" the law. Even more incisive is Mooney's depiction of the Grand Jury who have a great time laughing and joking with the hapless reporter (poorly played by Pryor, who evokes little audience sympathy for his plight) before sending him to jail.
This sudden spurt of action comes to a well-staged climax. But the main burden of the story aims a two-pronged attack on gambling syndicates and on the injustice of grand juries who compel reporters to disclose the sources of their information.
Although Rosen's indifferent direction muffles the attack, it's obvious former New York newspaperman, Martin Mooney, is trying to get a few things off his chest in this movie, for which a far more accurate title would be "Grand Jury Injustice!" Suitable catch-cries might then revolve around "Fearless Reporter Jailed for Telling the Truth! Grand Juries Run Amok! To Spite Congress and F.B.I., Callous Grand Jury and Obdurate Judge Send Reporter to Jail!"
Aside from Lloyd Ingraham, most of the acting is unimpressive. Ingraham is excellent in his very brief role as the unyielding judge who "upholds" the law. Even more incisive is Mooney's depiction of the Grand Jury who have a great time laughing and joking with the hapless reporter (poorly played by Pryor, who evokes little audience sympathy for his plight) before sending him to jail.