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Cub reporter Mike Perrivale is desperate for a big break. His girlfriend Richie Loomis keeps pushing for him to write about teacher Hugo Trimble (Lionel Barrymore) on his death bed. The editor hopes for a Mr. Chips story. In truth, Trimble is an outspoken man railing against the policies of politician Frankie Scarbine and blames Mike's editor. Mike convinces him to make up a fake front page to uplift Trimble. Then Mike has an idea to do it for real.

I don't like the premise. It doesn't make much sense. It's literally fake news. I don't understand the characters' actions. While it's great to see Lionel Barrymore, there isn't much of anything else. The movie almost grinds to a halt early on with Mike playing cards with his future mother-in-law. There must be a better way to advance the plot in its introductory stage.

Warner Brothers was the Studio that seemed to Relish in "Message" Movies, MGM tried and Mostly Failed at its Attempts as it did with most of Their Film-Noirs.

At First seeing such Productions as Beneath Their Prestige, They, Late in the Game did give those Genres, although mostly relegated to the B-Unit, some Attention but it was Simply not Their Forte and it Showed.

This has got to be One of the most Overly Sentimental, Insipid, Soapy, and Sappy Newspaper, Crime, and Corruption Movies ever made. The Film Lacks any sort of Believable Resonance and the Lead Actor is so Bad its Cringe Inducing.

Lionel Barrymore, J. Carrol Naish, and Spring Byington can do nothing to Save this Awful Attempt to Explore Syndicated Crime Elements, the Overseeing Role of the Fourth Estate, and Apathetic Citizens.

A Complete Failure.

Keefe Brasselle of all people stars in this film. His character, Mike Perrivale is an eager young reporter who is tired of handling dull stories. However, even when he is given more meaty stories, he's surprised to see that his editor (Larry Keating) is afraid to attack the real problem in the town--the mob boss, Frankie Scarbine (J. Carroll Naish). Mike becomes even more frustrated when he goes to visit a dying old teacher, Mr. Trimble (Lionel Barrymore)--a man who taught Mike and many others about good government and the like. So, to make Trimble's last days more pleasant, he arranges for a fake newspaper to be released just to Trimble announcing the investigation of Scarbine. However, Trimble sees through this...so what's next for Mike? Is he willing to put his life on the line to get the goods on Scarbine?

This film suffers from being way too sentimental and lacks realism. Everyone seems so earnest--unrealistically so. The film is poorly written and you could understand how this film didn't make Brasselle a household name.

Prolific director Don Weis' directorial debut, stars Keefe Brasselle as newspaper reporter Mike Perrivale, who devises a promotional stunt to further his career. Upon learning that cantankerous old history teacher Hugo Trimble (Lionel Barrymore, in one of his final performances) is dying, Mike writes up a glowing tribute, crediting various accomplishments (mostly fabricated) to Mr.Trimble. The well-meaning deed goes awry when crime boss Frankie Scarbine (J. Carroll Naish), angered that some of the civic reforms credited to Trimble may interfere with his own nefarious operations, threatens to make trouble for Mike. Fine performances from Brasselle, Barrymore, Sally Forrest as Mike's love interest, and veteran actor Lewis Stone as Josh.