Sued for Libel

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.

This is a terrific RKO B, directed by sure-footed Leslie Goodwins. Aside from excellent performances (including one of Richard Lane's best as a REALLY fast-talking reporter), this picture has an ace radio dramatist who happens to dabble in magic on the side. Hmmmm...remind you of anybody?? Kent Taylor even shaved off his moustache to further pull off the Welles masquerade. A cute nod to the very popular Mercury Players, who were popular on CBS in 1939. The funny part is that Taylor works for a powerful publisher! Paging Mr. Hearst. Paging Mr. Kane. Talk about shades of things to come. Anyway, all that aside it's a fairly clever mystery and a great chance to see OLD DARK HOUSE's Lillian Bond go totally off her nut. And Thurston Hall has a wonderfully comic bit in the first reel. This is pure B-fluff, but if you enjoy great contract players doing their thing as they can only do it, you'll have fun with SUED FOR LIBEL.

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!

"Sued for Libel" is a B-movie starring mostly unknown or little-known actors. And, like many other Bs, it's was quickly made and the script could have used a bit of tightening.

The film begins with a hearing in which the defendant, Albert Pomeroy (Morgan Conway) is acquitted of murder. However, Steve Lonegan (Kent Taylor) is told that Pomeroy was convicted and announces this on his radio show. What's worse, he gives details which simply aren't true at all...and, not surprisingly, the radio station is being sued for libel. Can Steve prove that he was right or will the station pay out millions because it defamed an innocent man? Or, is there some other option?

The story is quite good and despite the no-name actors, the acting is very good. I liked the film quite a bit. However, I also think that towards the end, the film did start to have some issues with believability. It just seemed a bit too tough to believe the twists that occurred and the ending seemed a tad too pat. Still, the film is very good for a B and is worth your time.

Morgan Conway has just been acquitted for murder, but reporter/broadcaster Kent Taylor gets the wrong dope and reports a guilty verdict. This puts him and his organization in the bind for slander. It also annoys DA Roger Pryor, who thought the case was wrapped up. They cooperate on a thorough investigation of Conway, but have a tough time finding anything to pin on him.

It's a decent reporter-chasing murderer mystery, with the usual assortment of possible suspects, and a girl Friday in Linda Hayes, with the prospect of a romantic liaison. There's some details about both Conway and Taylor being amateur magicians, which goes nowhere. With Lilian Bond, Richard Lane, Thurston Hall and Keye Luke.