Within the Law

There's quite a bit to like in this movie in its first half. Ruth Hussey's portrayal of the downward spiral into a life of crime after being wrongly convicted is well done and believable. The plans she concocts for legally extorting large sums from her former employer are clever and add quite a few nail biting moments. Despite the film's pedigree I found myself expecting more and more clever twists. But in its windup the film becomes melodramatic and predictable. Love wins all, love sacrifices all, blah, blah, blah. Boring, boring, boring. The producers opted for a safe and bland conclusion when a more original ending would have raised this film to a much higher standing. Oh well, Ruth Hussey, Paul Kelly and Rita Johnson are all very good in their roles so I guess they make it worth a look.

Back in the days before television, there was nothing wrong with being a "B" movie. They went by quickly and some were pretty darned entertaining -- "Within the Law," for example. Ruth Hussey plays a sweet young girl who's accused of theft. Despite being innocent, she's sentenced to three years in jail and comes out swearing revenge against the department store tycoon who testified against her. Her plan -- to humiliate him by marrying his son. But she falls in love with the guy which creates a problem when a few old friends try to rope her into robbing the tycoon's home. Does it all work out in the end? Of course. But along the way, there are several lively twists along with contributions from old pros like Paul Kelly and William Gargan.

Early in his film career, Neal briefly worked at MGM. His first role was in "Out West with the Hardys" from Mickey Rooney's "Andy Hardy" series. This one came next and is from the studio's B-movie unit, starring Ruth Hussey as a clerk wrongfully convicted of theft. After serving 3 years in prison, she seeks revenge on the department store tycoon who sent her upriver. It's not bad and it's certainly a cut above the cheap PRC and Republic movies in Neal's later career.

The film itself is a remake of a 1911 play about a saleswoman who becomes a criminal mastermind using legal means ("Within the Law") to screw with the system she blames for her downfall. It spawned 5 film versions, including a silent one with Norma Talmadge and the most famous being "Paid" in 1930 with Joan Crawford. This is the final version.

Hussey was actually a major lead in MGM's B-unit, but is best known today for her supporting roles ("The Philadelphia Story," "Susan and God") and her time on Broadway. She's a little too sophisticated for a saleswoman, but she still pulls it off. A few MGM regulars, including Paul Kelly performing his standard gangster role, are involved. Neal isn't especially good as the rich department store son Hussey marries and (surprise, surprise) falls in love with. The film again highlights that he was much better at playing crooks and crooks than a jovial protagonist.

The story is highly improbable. But I enjoyed the working class versus the rich tones, as well as a smart woman being the leader of a group of crooks and crooks. Finally, I'm always amused by some of the weird women's fashions of the time (costumes here from Dolly Tree). In the final scene, Hussy is wearing an outfit that seems more suited to a carnival or magic act.

When live theatre was popular, talented, young writers aspired to see their work on stage. In this adaptation, the tools of the dramatist are put to good use: reversals, rising and falling action, minor and major crises. Ruth Hussey plays a young woman working in a department store, accused of theft when stolen goods are found in her locker. Despite her protestations of innocence, the stern store owner insists on prosecution. During her three years in prison, where she is befriended by beautiful Rita Johnson, she makes full use of the library, where she studies and learns how to steal "within the law." There's never a dull moment in this compact 65 minute drama, with good actors and snappy dialogue. With newsreels, trailers, and a cartoon, it makes for a satisfying evening.

This programmer, starring Ruth Hussey, concerns a woman, Mary, who, unjustly accused of stealing, vows revenge on her employer. While in prison, she studies law books and realizes that one can use the law to commit crimes and stay out of jail. She joins a team of con artists, of whom a prison friend, Agnes, is a member.

Mary's knowledge of legal cons is a boon to her friends, as it would be today if she had worked at Enron. It's the most interesting part of the movie. Life becomes a little more complicated for her when she sets out to use her boss' son as revenge.

This is an ordinary B movie. What's fun is that it was made in the 1938-1939 era when Gone with the Wind was all the rage. When Mary asks the prison librarian for a book, Gone with the Wind is suggested. Her friend Agnes refers to herself as Scarlett O'Hara. Guess everybody had it on the brain.