Brother and sister Chester Morris and Helen Twelvetrees get in over their heads in this crackling melodrama that utilizes pretty much every piece of sinful material that it could get its hand on. Morris ends up a prizefighter, Twelvetrees a showgirl. Along the way, they find themselves involved with some rather shady characters, the type that their noble papa (Grant Mitchell) warned them about. It's a double dose of the prodigal son parable, with a prodigal daughter as well. Nat Pendleton and Warren Hymer among the mugs involved in Morris's circle, with platinum blonde dumbbell Alice White getting him into more hot water. But ultimately, it's his own sister who brings him down the most, showing a family loyalty that crosses the line of believability.
As far as the slug-fest this gives to the unenforced code, this movie is like a hammer tossed into a glass making factory. Morris and Twelvetrees do fine in their parts that are well written enough and detailed down to every fault and flaw. It just gets too corny in the details of the story, twisting the knife into both characters that doesn't seem to have a logical, satisfying conclusion in store. A mixture of comedy and music aids in keeping it flowing, particularly a scene in a malt shop where Morris takes on cantankerous owner Clarence Wilson. It's standard '30s crime drama where all the elements seem neatly tied together until someone came along and put the ribbon in a knot. In spite of all that, the ending is one of those sock in the jaw types that might leave your heart in a knot as well.
As far as the slug-fest this gives to the unenforced code, this movie is like a hammer tossed into a glass making factory. Morris and Twelvetrees do fine in their parts that are well written enough and detailed down to every fault and flaw. It just gets too corny in the details of the story, twisting the knife into both characters that doesn't seem to have a logical, satisfying conclusion in store. A mixture of comedy and music aids in keeping it flowing, particularly a scene in a malt shop where Morris takes on cantankerous owner Clarence Wilson. It's standard '30s crime drama where all the elements seem neatly tied together until someone came along and put the ribbon in a knot. In spite of all that, the ending is one of those sock in the jaw types that might leave your heart in a knot as well.