Buyer Beware

It's the MGM "Crime Does Not Pay" series. Criminals steal from a warehouse and sell to an unscrupulous pharmacist. The pahrmacist's unsuspecting partner starts to suspect. As these episodes go, this one isn't that bad. I expected more from one character and wanted the story to go a different way. In the end, this is fine.

Charles Brown tells the story of how he and his scientific advisors dealt with people who were stealing goods and reselling them to retailers. A batch of sulfa drugs turns out to be tainted with poison, which leads the cops to the bad guys It was inevitable, because CRIME DOES NOT PAY!

It's a good entry in MGM's long-running crime series of shorts, most notable for an early appearance by Hugh Beaumont, It's his third role in the movies, but his voice is unmistakable.

MADE AS PART of a series of Short Subjects that were intended to be a sort of throw-in premium for theatre operators who would book MGM's features, this little two reeler proves to be instead a model for film-making. It has outstandingly constructed storyline, no wasted actions and a solid dose of believability at its core.

ALTHOUGH ONE COULD certainly argue that the movie has little "artistic" merit, this is quite possibly its strong point. Its audience wanted to be treated to a dose of close to home examination of the real world's everyday problems and how society is harmed by illegality that is embraced even in a 'casual' manner.

PRESENTED IN SUCH docudrama style that would become so very popular years later, it is clear that the story is derived from the real occurrence or of many; those being blended into a single story. The opening narration so states and reminds us that the names of the real people have been substituted with fictitious monikers. (Sort of like the future Radio/TV series, DRAGNET, would use: "The names have been changed to protect the innocent.")

THE PLOT AND storyline involve a burglary ring specializing in the victimizing of pharmaceutical companies and their "fencing" the contraband goods to otherwise legitimate business at a cut-rate price; which could only be possibly so low if the merchandise was "hot", or at least very warm.

THE ACTION IRISES in on a struggling new independent drugstore partnership and how one of the two pharmacists convinces his younger associate to go along with the crooked dealers. There is a mild dose of success in getting the store off the ground; but serious trouble follows as a prescription drug is tainted with poison. Multiple deaths follow; which makes the otherwise "Legitimate" Businessmen accomplices to the multiple homicides.

VIEWING THIS FILM recently on Turner Classic Movies cable channel was our first contact with the MGM Series of CRINE DOES NOT PAY shorts. We found it to be most satisfying and intriguing. It may well have been the model for so many of the half hour Cop Series that permeated the airwaves of the early television webs (networks).

WE HAVE ALREADY made reference to its resemblance to Jack Webb's DRAGNET series; but e must make mention of another. We see a very striking similarity to RACKET SQUAD, which starred Reed Hadley as Captain John Braddock, main character and narrator.

IN ADDITION TO the previously mentioned attributes, we cannot sign off without mentioning the fine cast and how well they were employed in making this short. The roster included: Frank Orth, Ralph Byrd (everyone's favourite DICK TRACY), Hugh Beaumont and Milburm Stone (best remembered as 'Doc' Adams on the GUNSMOKE TV Series).

This entry number 30 in the "Crime Does Not Pay" series of shorts is one of the first I've paid serious attention to.

Mostly these shorts are used today as fillers on Turner Classic Movies, and I suspect most people use the time to go to the bathroom or kitchen.

Bad mistake, if "Buyer Beware" is any example.

I might have ignored this one too until I started recognizing some of my favorite actors.

If Jack Pennick is in it, I want to see it, whatever it might be.

Milburn Stone, a great actor who is known almost entirely, except by film historians, as Doc in "Gunsmoke," plays one of the chief bad guys in "Buyer Beware." And Ralph Byrd has a moment -- no, more like five seconds -- of glory as a uniformed police officer.

Every one of these generally unknown actors puts on a good show, and they make a relatively tame story well worth watching.

I mean, any film, even a short quickly produced as a time filler, with Ralph Byrd willing to be uncredited, as were all the players, and on screen for five seconds, is a terrific movie-watching, face-seeking ("Say, isn't that ...?") opportunity.

This episode of the Crime Does Not Pay series from MGM begins like all the others--it has a fake politician introduce the film. Time and again they did this--I assume due to a feeling that this would add respectability and realism to the short films!

This installment, "Buyer Beware", is about hijacked and adulterated products. However, the focus is much more on the merchants who knowingly purchase these items--thinking they'll save a few dollars and ignoring the real cost. In this case, a pharmacy owner makes a deal with these mobsters--thinking it will help them to finally make a profit. However, his partner isn't happy when he realizes they are dealing in stolen goods and threatens to go to the police. At this point, the mob beaks the snot out of the guy and he knuckles under--accepting more shipments. However, later instead of stolen items, they give him adulterated drugs--drugs that can kill!!

This is a well made short filled with the stuff I like in the films--violence, realism and excellent acting. This is one exciting film and you assume this problem is NOT just confined to 1940! Worth your time.