Sued for Libel

"Drama in the News" radio host and part-time magician Kent Taylor (as Stephen "Steve" Lonegan) receives a phony tip and broadcasts the wrong verdict in a high profile case. The misinformation starts as a practical joke by attractive Linda Hayes (as Maggie Shane), who is really targeting fast-talking reporter Richard Lane (as Smiley Dugan) for targeting her pretty legs with paper-wads from a slingshot. With his station sued for a million dollars, Mr. Taylor decides to investigate the case. Old and new murders add to the mystery. Morgan Conway (as Albert Pomeroy) squirms and Lilian Bond (as Muriel Webster) schemes...

****** Sued for Libel (10/27/39) Leslie Goodwins ~ Kent Taylor, Linda Hayes, Lilian Bond, Richard Lane

Kent Taylor, Linda Hayes, Lilian Bond, and Morgan Conway star in "Sued for Libel," another misnamed film, this one from 1939. There as a film starring Steve Cochran called "Slander" which should have been called "Libel," and now this one, which should have been called "Sued for Slander." Slander is the spoken word, libel is the print. One would think Hollywood would be more familiar with these terms.

The film opens with Albert Pomeroy (Conway) on trial for murdering Edward Webster, his business partner. Webster's widow is standing behind him, swearing that he's innocent.

The reporters are on hand waiting for the verdict, but the reporter who will phone the radio station that is re-enacting the trial, Smiley Dugan (Richard Lane) steps out for lunch. He asks another reporter, Maggie (Hayes) to call the station if a verdict comes in. Unfortunately for the station and the man who will announce the verdict, Steve Lonegan (Taylor), Smiley has been harassing Maggie all day. So when the verdict of not guilty comes in, she tells Steve it's guilty in order to get back at Smiley. The station is then wide open for a -- SLANDER -- suit.

Lonegan figures if they can get something on Pomeroy, maybe an old crime he was never charged with or something, they can get off the hook. He hones in on the suicide of a young woman a few years back.

A neat mystery, with rapid-fire dialogue, and a few magic tricks done by Lonegan, a magician on the side. Certainly not as bad as has been described in a couple of reviews here. Just the title is all wrong.

The studios cranked out a lot of this type of film in the 1930s and 1940s, and this is an example of how cheap and silly they could be. The film overuses what begins as an interesting plot device - a radio dramatization of the news - so that it becomes flatly ridiculous. The story is way too complicated and progressively harder to follow as the picture progresses. The acting ranges from colorless (Kent Taylor) to hilariously over-the-top (Lilian Bond). In short, this is a real time-waster.

Sued for Libel (1939)

** (out of 4)

Decent mystery about radio broadcaster Steve Lonegan (Kent Taylor) who puts on a radio show dealing with a local trial where Albert Pomeroy (Morgan Conway) is accused of killing his business partner. Lonegan gets the wrong word and announces that Pomeroy has been found guilty, which isn't correct and soon the freed man plans on suing for libel. This doesn't sit too well with Lonegan so he sets out to prove Pomeroy really is guilty. At just 66-minutes this film goes by rather quickly but there are just way too many dry moments that keep it from being more entertaining. The film does manage to have a decent story idea but sadly not enough is done with it especially when you consider a large portion of the running time just has various cast members standing around talking about things that really don't advance the plot or add anything to it. The film does contain an excellent twist at the end, which I won't reveal and this here makes the film worth sitting through. What really keeps the film going are the rather good performances with Taylor leading the way with a strong performance. I also thought Linda Hayes was memorable in her role as a reporter and Lillian Bond is also extremely good as the dead man's widow. Conway is dependable in his part as is Richard Lane who adds some nice comic touches. Keye Luke also has a small role. SUED FOR LIBEL will mainly appeal to those who enjoy watching all those "B" movies that turn up on Turner Classic Movies. This one here is worth watching for fans of the genre but it's doubtful others will find enough here to make it worth sitting through.

This taut mystery, filmed just before "noir" began, is genuinely suspenseful. It has a wonderful jazzy rhythm.

The scenes in which a radio show is being broadcast are fun and -- it seems -- accurate. Keye Luke is as always an asset, here as one of the radio players.

Linda Hayes is a great, angular heroine, looking a bit like Katharine Hepburn. And Lillian Bond, in a crucial role, looks fabulous --especially with the wind blowing her hair in a convertible. She looks a little like Clara Bow and a lot like someone who could have been a star in the 1970-90s.

Calling all cars: Be on the lookout for this little gem!