When you've seen as many old films as I have, you notice that there were a TON of B-movies in the 30s and 40s which featured a know-it-all reporter who is also an amateur crime fighter. And compared to the others I've seen, I'd say "Man from Headquarters" is about average...but enjoyable.
The story begins in Chicago and Larry Doyle (Frank Albertson) has just received a commendation for helping the police indict a gang of criminals. Inexplicably, his boss soon fires Larry...and generally behaves abominably through the film....which really makes no sense.
In the meantime, the rest of the Pardoni gang and its leader are angry at Doyle and want revenge. So, a couple thugs bash Larry over the head, take his money and dump him on a train headed to St. Louis. When he arrives, he is jobless and broke and tries to get a job...and his old boss lies and tells his prospective employer the guy ISN'T Larry. See what I mean by his character not making any sense?!
In the meantime, Larry meets up with a damsel in distress (Joan Woodbury) and stumbles onto more crimes by the Pardoni gang. And so, like any B-movie reporter, he decides to investigate...and nearly gets himself arrested in the process. What's next? See the film.
Despite being a low budget Monogram film, I somehow found the movie more than just a time-passer...it was enjoyable. Sure, a bit of it made little sense and it had a few cliches...but still, it was entertaining and worth seeing.
By the way, if you do watch you'll likely be shocked by a line about wife beating.... PRO-WIFE BEATING!! My how times have changed!!
