Come Across

It seems that as the series progressed, the "Crime Does Not Pay" episodes got better and better. "Come Across" is one of the best so far, a tense chronology of bank robbers in a robbery gone bad. The gang becomes more desperate as the police and the 'Feds' close in (The bank robbery in question becomes a federal case when a dropped pistol found at the scene proves to be stolen from a federal installation).

Familiar faces in this one are Horace McMahon and Milburn Stone as well as Matt McHugh, brother of Frank McHugh. A key role is played with feeling and gusto by Bernard Nedell, whom I had not seen before, as the leader of the beleaguered gang.

Good pacing, good story and an overall good entry in a series that got off to an unpromising start in 1935. My rating of seven is to indicate that it's well worth your time.

One minute's work robbing a bank of valuable bonds with a guard and one of the robbers shot. One minute for a question: is it worth it? Crime doesn't pay and even with public heroes made out of bank robbers, it still don't pay. MGM puts it out plane and simple in this exciting little short that shows the various ways on which this type of crime does not pay. Desperation keeps the gangsters nervous and this leads to mistakes. Oh, the bonds ain't worth much 'cause their hot. Even living in fancy hotels and living it up for a little bit isn't satisfying. In a sense, these crime shorts are even grittier than anything that Robinson, Raft, Cagney or Bogart ever did, because the actors in the leads were minor actors in the features. This makes them even more believable. Even their molls are "just as hot", frustrated by the lack of a life.

A seemingly smart gang is planning a robbery down to the last detail. They are especially sure to avoid committing any federal crimes--as they don't want to tangle with the FBI. However, their perfect robbery turns sour when one of the gang, 'Sheep', is shot in the process. He's still alive but the gang needs to get him a doctor as well as find a hideout. They get both--but it doesn't come cheap. In fact, time and time again, their huge bank haul is whittled down to nothing because lots of criminals are willing to help....for a price! Ultimately, they are broke, captured or killed--all as a lesson to the audience that crime does not pay!

This is a decent but preachier episode than usual for the series. It's still well made and enjoyable throughout--with a dandy and predictably violent ending (as they usually were with the "Crime Does Not Pay" series). Worth seeing.