A snazzy little poverty row crime drama has a lavish look about it, showing that less is more and Z can beat an A in a stacked deck. Clever opening titles show the creativity of the team behind the scenes, and an opening card game shows two sharks ready for the attack on an unsuspecting player. Trick photography gives the indication that the two strangers (Kane Richmond and Bernadene Hayes) can read presumably marked cards, and when Hayes realizes that Richmond is the only other card shark better than her, they set up a scam. She doesn't count on him falling for a pretty singer (Gloria Warren), and this sets the second half up of the scorned Hayes seeking revenge.
Monogram films had gotten in the film noir racket from the get go, and some of them are forgotten gems and a few minor classics. This has an A look to it with lavish sets and costumes, a right script and raw dialog that moves the film along at a speedy pace. Hayes is up there with noir femme fatales played by Stanwyck, Lupino, Scott, Bennett, Greer and Savage, stopping at nothing to prove that a scorned woman can be a dangerous partner.
Monogram films had gotten in the film noir racket from the get go, and some of them are forgotten gems and a few minor classics. This has an A look to it with lavish sets and costumes, a right script and raw dialog that moves the film along at a speedy pace. Hayes is up there with noir femme fatales played by Stanwyck, Lupino, Scott, Bennett, Greer and Savage, stopping at nothing to prove that a scorned woman can be a dangerous partner.
