The Ticket of Leave Man

You've got to love Tod Slaughter. This hammy English actor has more or less been forgotten nowadays. He seems to be no more than a footnote of cinematic history. Yet I think this is a serious injustice, as every Tod Slaughter vehicle I have seen has never been anything less than entertaining. He specialized in playing cads in a series of Victorian melodramas. There weren't that many of them and Slaughter's cinematic career doesn't encompass all that many screen outings. He seemed to end up going back to the stage. His acting certainly would not have been out of place in the theatre, it's so hammy and over-the-top. But the leering villains he played were tremendously memorable, and Slaughter never seems to ever let you down. In this one, like all of them, he plays a middle-aged villain who lusts after a much younger woman, and nefariously sets a plan in motion where her fiancée is incarcerated, leaving Tod with seemingly easy access to the girl. This plot-line is extremely typical for his films. His character is a killer called the Tiger, who goes around London murdering people. He is aided by a stereotypical crooked Jewish moneylender. The innocent fellow they put in prison is the ticket of leave man of the title, i.e. a chap just out of jail looking for a break. Naturally, evil Tod has to deal with this chap when he comes back into society.

This is not the best Slaughter production. And like most of the others it's certainly no classic. But Tod is a very fun guy to watch and these melodramas he appeared in back in the 30's are still enjoyable to watch, unlike many other similar cheap productions from the time. This one is certainly formulaic, but it's acceptable when it's the unusual and unique attractions of Tod Slaughter that is the main draw.

In THE TICKET OF LEAVE MAN, the inimitable Tod Slaughter plays yet another notorious murderer. This time, he's The Tiger, a killer who leaves his victims garroted. Obviously, he chortles his way through each murder, in signature Slaughter style.

The Tiger is also a thief who has taken a fancy to a beautiful singer. Alas, she's already got a fiance. No problem, The Tiger finds a way to get rid of loverboy, and deceive the poor woman. He also decides to hide in plain sight by becoming the head of a local charitable organization. How better to fleece the wealthy? Will no one stop this eeevil monster?

Another classic for Slaughter fans...

"A criminal mastermind known as 'The Tiger' has set his sights upon the beautiful fiancée of a bank teller. Hoping to eliminate his rival, the criminal plots to frame the young man for passing counterfeit money, thus have him sent to prison and freeing him to pursue the girl. After the man serves his time for the crime he didn't commit, he returns home to win his love over and stop 'The Tiger'," according to the DVD sleeve's synopsis.

Barnstorming Tod Slaughter (as James "The Tiger" Dalton) breathes some life into this old English chestnut. Earnest John Warwick and soprano Marjorie Taylor are the pretty fiancée and bank teller. The men wear phony sideburns. Mr. Slaughter kissing the fainted body of Ms. Taylor is a memorable moment. And, both "The Tiger" and hawk-nosed "moneylender" Frank Cochran (as Melter Moss) are more properly disposed of than in the original play.

***** The Ticket of Leave Man (10/37) George King ~ Tod Slaughter, John Warwick, Marjorie Taylor

The oh so hammy Tod Slaughter is good as usual in this mediocre crime thriller - it's more of a crime drama than a thriller. The film is a bit dry to me - it's missing something... darker elements. The film seems to "bright" or a bit "cheery" for a crime thriller. If it was meant to be comedy then this film would be perfect for that but the film is not a comedy. It doesn't have the elements of twisted darkness that one would expect from a Tod Slaughter film.

The movie is exactly what the description says: an innocent man is falsely accused of counterfeiting, put in prison and must prove he is innocent. "The Tiger" is actually responsible for the murders.

It's not a horrible film - but it's not all that great. I'll have to rate this one somewhere in the middle ground.

4.5/10

thoroughly enjoyed this Todd Slaughter vehicle,, to be honest I never heard of him before till this movie,, he's very funny, entertaining, and just a joy to watch on the screen as the "Tiger".. a con man goes around London, killing people,, then decides it's time to pull the ultimate con,, he sets up a charity,,, called ticket of leave man,, a charity to help those who have just gotten out of jail,, and need a break,, i.e. a job... our main character is very nieve, and get's taken in by the nefarious tiger... he meets a beautiful young woman he intends to marry, but now their future is in jeopardly as he has lost faith in being an honest man,, and is contemplating a life of crime, to better his financial situation, and take care of his girl...