Haute tension

Evalyn Knapp, cartoonist and news hound for the Daily News, works directly for managing editor Regis Toomey. She used to work with Ray Walker over in circulation; he wants her back. Both of these men think of Knapp as more than just a talented colleague. But which one will she choose? Earnest if slightly dull editor Toomey? Or brash fast talker Walker?

The larger plot concerns the crooked schemes of racketeer Cy Kendall and how his machinations affect the rivalry between the Daily News and their competitor, the Star. As plots go, it really isn't much, but the direction and photography are better than the script....

A number of nice little touches do show attention to detail and a creative spirit. For example—Walker going into a night club phone booth to try to lure Toomey away from their table with a fake phone call: the shot frames not just Walker on his phone but also the hat check girl far across the room picking up her phone and answering his call. It ain't much, but a nicely composed shot like that compensates for a fair portion of silly dialog.

Knapp is pretty good. She gets to make faces and offer sassy comments, and she exudes plenty of energy. Close ups show off her big eyes widened in surprise or excitement.

Ray Walker is fine as the smooth talking circulation man, although his character is rather annoying….Good grief, he lets Knapp get tossed in jail just so he can get a good story out of it, and then tells her he did it to make her a big star. Naturally, she really likes him even though she says she doesn't…. Regis Toomey tries hard but his character just doesn't have much to do except protest in vain.

Cy Kendall is at his best here—the man who played the B movie villain better than almost anybody. He smirks, he sneers, he grins. His scenes are the film's highlights, for me at least.

Overall, it's very competently put together but lacks any really distinguishing elements like snappy dialog or unique characters.

Two newspapers are in the middle of a circulation war, and a gangster kingpin gets in the middle of it. In the meantime, the editor and the circulation manager at one of the papers are fighting over the favors of the cute blonde secretary/cartoonist/reporter. Will our two heroes and heroine continue to get out the BULLDOG EDITION, or will they all die in a hail of bullets from the gangster element?

This is one of those movies in the 30s that simulated speed and pace with montages of presses rolling and cars speeding and newsboys running,and people fighting and killing, all accompanied by an energetic movie score. And, in this case, that's probably a good thing, because the plot is standard issue mid thirties, and the Code has disposed of the fun sexy bits. Nevertheless, this being a Republic production, the movie is edited for speed, and the action scenes are pretty good. If you like 30s movies with low budgets, this is a pretty good one. But good luck remembering much about it a week from now.

Newspapermen Ray Walker and Regis Toomey are fighting over editorial cartoonist Evalyn Knapp. Meanwhile, gangster Cy Kendall has just been found not guilty and he's sore over the cartoons Miss Knapp has been drawing in court. He goes to a rival newspaper and cuts a deal to boost their circulation...which he does by destroying the copies of the love triangle's papers.

It's a fast-run, cynical movie that director Charles Lamont slides adeptly from early comedy to later standard but competently executed melodrama. Miss Knapp gives a fine performance and Kendall is excellent as the bad guy. The script is well-larded with newspaper jargon, and the comedy bits enlivened with professionals, including Billy Gilbert, Tom Kennedy, 'Snowflake' Toones and Minerva Urecal. It's a fine example of the competent talent available to ambitious B production companies like Republic.

While IMDb lists the running time of this film to be 57 minutes, the DVD from Alpha Video is a bit less than 53. Either IMDb is mistaken or, more likely, someone trimmed a little bit from this print somewhere along the line.

Mob boss Nick Enright (Cy Kendall) doesn't like one of the local newspapers, as they've been running stories very critical of his shady business ventures. He's now feeling rather cocky now that he's been acquitted of a murder--and will do just about anything to stop the paper. First, his goons beat up the newspaper sellers and destroy the papers. Next, he decides to cut to the chase and kill the editor and a lady reporter! In addition to this plot, two guys (Ray Walker and Regis Toomey) vie for this lady reporter (Evalyn Knapp) and try to one-up each other in order to win her. How do these two plots converge and how does it all end? See this breezy B-movie and find out for yourself.

While I noticed a few shortcomings here and there in the film (such as an overly broad scene involving a baking contest), this film is simple and enjoyable. Not a great film but a decent example of a B which managed to entertain even though it had mostly second and third-tier stars in the lead.