The Wrong Road

The picture during the cast and credits tells the whole story: look out ,kids, don't take the wrong way, follow the straight and narrow ,the shortcuts lead to ruin; in a nutshell ,it's an edifying preachy movie probably made to be shown in Sunday schools .

Both heroes are immature ,naive and gullible :how could they believe that they would retrieve their money (which they earned ,insists the boy),that they would not be followed ?

The heroes' naiveté has something endearing ;they are like big children still believing in Santa Claus ;the girl seems more sensible but the boy hangs up to his dream;Richard Cromwell 's boyish look in a tailor made part: he who called Mary Dressler 'Beauty " in "Emma "(1932) and was the rookie who was doublecrossed by a temptress and "so satisfyingly tortured in "Lives of a Bengal Lancer".(Gore Vidal). He epitomizes the impulsive mindless young man and he does it with panache.

The scene of the auction sale where the lovers try to get back the music box is certainly the best.

I believe a film ought to have at least a modicum of credibility. This is preposterous. It has a pair of spoiled, previously rich kids, stealing a hundred thousand dollars from a bank where the young man works. First of all, how could people running such a business be so stupid. Secondly, they pull the whole thing off and then turn themselves in. You see, they are going to do their time and then return for the money at a later time. Of course, they put the money in a music box which is shipped to Chicago. Why didn't they just hide it somewhere nearby. Since they weren't going to turn themselves in for a while, why not find a good hiding place. It couldn't be that hard. They do a couple of quick years in the joint, then are paroled because of the intervention of a police detective who is chasing the money. He is willing to pardon them if they return the money (more stupidity) because they seem like nice kids. I wonder what he would have done for some poor sap on the street. Anyway, it gets hokier and hokier. An acquaintance of the young man from prison gets into the act. Despite repeated offers to get off the hook, the young man flights to the bloody end to keep the money. It's too much to even respond to. It's like a training film for idiots.

Everybody in this movie is "nice". The cops are nice, the criminals are nice, heck, even Lionel Atwill is nice! How can you describe this one, it's in a class by itself. The film is basically a "crime does not pay" lesson, typical of the era, with a twist. The twist is that the authorities inexplicably go out of their way to give the perpetrators of a one hundred thousand dollar bank robbery every opportunity to get off with a slap on the wrist.

But to analyze the plot of this one is really a waste of time, since there is very little sense to it. Really, the main premise has to rank among the most preposterous of all time, in a class with 'Reefer Madness' and Ed Wood's 'Jail Bait'.

But if you don't take it seriously (how could you?) you might get some enjoyment out of this one, at least a few laughs. The acting is actually not all that bad, and includes an intriguing early performance by Horace McMahon as a hardened criminal (actually, the one character in the whole movie who is not really "nice"). Lionel Atwill is interesting to see in an uncharacteristic role as a merciful investigator. And Marjorie Main, too, as a pleasant middle-aged lady.

For all the criticism I am throwing at it, I must admit it entertained me, and I definitely recommend it to those who enjoy unintended humor.

When they graduated from college, they had high hopes, but now Richard Cromwell and Helen Mack are disillusioned. He's just been fired from his teller's position, so he stole $100,000. The two of them figure they'll spend some time in jail, then collect the money. Kindly insurance investigator Lionel Atwill tries to talk them into returning the money, but they're stubborn. Two years later, at the urging of Atwill, they're granted parole and go for the money.... with Atwill and bad man Horace MacMahon after them.

It's a well-meaning story with a strong moral component, and Atwill is excellent, as is Miss Mack. Cromwell's line readings are a bit droning. Director James Cruze does a competent job here, with some fine performances in the supporting cast. He was near the end of his rope, though. He had been a leading director in the 1910s and 1920s, but had stumbled at the coming of sound. His brief renaissance of a few years earlier had dribbled away. The following year, he would direct three more movies, all of them Bs verging on exploitation, then nothing. He would die in 1942.

Richard Cromwell and Helen Mack star in a short programmer, "The Wrong Road," from 1937. The film also stars Lionel Atwill.

A man and woman, Jimmy and Ruth (Richard Cromwell/Helen Mack) who apparently don't want to work for a living decide to steal $100,000 from a bank, hide the loot, confess, and when they are released from prison, get the money and lead a happy life.

They don't plan on several things. One is a long sentence - ten years. They manage to get out in two with the insurance man (Atwill) convincing a judge that the two will lead him to the money if they are released. They also hadn't planned on the rules of their parole, one of which is that they can't get married for 8 years.

And, alas, they running into the detective every time they turn around - or a prison mate of Jimmy's who wants to know where the money is.

Then there's the location of the money - another problem.

I have to say I'm not sure what made Richard Cromwell such a big acting find - I thought he was pretty terrible, although cute. I was surprised when I read his biography that listed all the accolades he received.

Okay movie.