Blonde Bait

Jim Davis is wanted for murder and treason. He's been in Great Britain since the War, doing all sorts of villainous stuff (as not explained in a monotonous manner by Richard Travis in an office). He meets up with girlfriend Beverly Michaels, makes a date to meet her on New Year's Eve to get married, and then disappears until the end of the movie; he's the Maguffin of the movie, and that's his personality.

Miss Michaels speaks to her manager in his office, since she's quitting show biz, but he doesn't like it, and in the struggle, he's injured. She goes to prison. Meanwhile, Travis, in yet another office, arranges for her to break out in the company of Thora Hird, April Olrich and Miss Olrich's baby, so she can lead them to Davis.

Director Elmo Williams was a fine editor, but as a director, he was a washout, and this movie is a fine example. Everyone speaks slowly and boringly, and the plot advances at a glacial rate. There are plenty of moving shots; normally they help a movie, but they gave me the impression that that cameramen were as anxious for the movie to get on with it as I was. There is one good sequence with Hermione Badderly as Miss Hird's nasty pal they hide out with. Otherwise it's a dull affair.