Dragnet Patrol

Glen Tryon is on shore leave with buddy Vernon Dent, who's married to Marjorie Beebe.They introduce Glen to Vera Reynolds, and the kids fall hard for each other. Glen and Vernon quit the navy and go to work as fishermen, but Vera hates the smell of fish he brings home, and she wants the things money can buy, so he takes up running rum for a fellow named Tony.

I'm all in favor of a story told quickly, but Scott Darling's script is little more than a sketch, with plot driving character whenever a change of pace is needed. Also, while most of the cast is good -- and it's a pleasure to see Vernon Dent stretch himself a bit in a sizable role in a feature, as well as Walter Long and George Hayes before he became Gabby -- Miss Reynolds' line reading is pretty poor. Certainly she's a fine physical performer, but it quickly becomes clear why this pretty Mack Sennett Bathing Beauty and WAMPAS star of 1926 would make only three more movies the following year, then retire. She would die in 1962, 62 years of age.

I found the supporting cast of "Dragnet Patrol" more interesting than the film itself. In support are Vernon Dent (a frequent foil in Three Stooges films), Walter Long (a frequent foil in Laurel & Hardy films) and George 'Gabby' Hayes, practically unrecognizable as a private detective. As for the story...it's decent but not much more and the ending was weak.

When the story begins, Cookie (Vernon Dent) introduces Larry (Glenn Tryon) to his wife and her friend, Millie. Soon Larry and Millie wed and the two guys decide to quit their life in the Navy and get jobs that bring them home more often. Larry loves his job with the fishing fleet and is excited when he's made captain of his own boat. But Millie wants money and excitement--and essentially throws him out unless he makes more money by smuggling alcohol during Prohibition. As for Larry...he gives her what she wants but their marriage is on the rocks. What's next?

The biggest shock in this film wasn't that Tryon became a rum runner but seeing Walter Long in a suit and playing a businessman. Usually, he played brutish, coarse guys...and this was a nice change of pace. Overall, a decent story and a nice collection of character actors but the ending and the wife's sudden change of heart seemed weak, at best.

By the way, in a very shocking scene, Dent's character slugs his wife in the mouth...and it looks very real! My how times have changed!!