Alerte aux banques

This film begins with an agent for the Department of Justice by the name of "Alan O'Connor" (Conrad Nagel) along with his assistant "Bobbie Reynolds" (Eleanor Hunt) being sent to investigate a series of bank robberies in and around Los Angeles. However, upon starting their investigation they discover that their lead suspect has been killed while in jail awaiting questioning. That being said, they have no recourse other than to wait and see whether the bank heists continue and then follow up accordingly. It's during this time that Alan's sister "Kay O'Connor" (Wilma Francis) arrives and eager to show her around they invite her and a male friend she met on the airplane named "Jerry Turner" (Frank Milan) out to dinner. What they don't know is that Jerry has just flown in to join up with the bank robbers in a particular heist planned later in the week and is planning on using his relationship with Kay should anything go wrong. Now rather than reveal any more I will just say that this was a basic crime-drama from the 30's which clearly shows its age. To that end, although it flows smoothly enough, I didn't especially care for the inclusion of the bumbling photographer named "Clarence 'Bulb' Callahan" (Vince Barnett) who was brought in for comedic effect as it cheapened the overall effect. Be that as it may, while this wasn't a bad film necessarily, it could have been better and for that reason I have rated it as just slightly below average.

Bank Alarm is a pretty straightforward, pull no punches actioner that pits a married (nice!) couple of a G-Man and (yes) G-Woman, against a counterfeit money ring. The bad guys you see, popped the counterfeiter of the money they are planning to distribute. (thanks to the descriptions of 5! Count em! 5! Newspaper headlines we get to see), The G-People, as I like to call them, methodically step by step, follow the pieces of the puzzle until the end until it's somewhat predictably conclusion. Actually, this is so straightforward, there's hardly any suspense happening, But still, it does have it's moments, but I could have done away with the lame comedy bits provided by Vince Barnett.

Conrad Nagel is trying to get a line on a gang of gangsters. Can he figure out the connection between Carelli's night club and all the BANK ALARMs going off in Southwest, or will he be stymied by his really stupid photographer sidekick?

This snooze of a B-movie has all the stuff you expect in a B. A really dumb sidekick. A police force worthy of Mack Sennett. A smooth talking super genius as lead detective, who suavely insults the buffoons leading the local police force. And a gangster named Corelli. The one thing it does not have is a compelling plot, since the scriptwriters decided to go for a rather bland police procedural plot, where the villains and the plot developments are easy to guess. The result is one of those under 60 minute movies that feels like a three hour epic. The only thing noteworthy is how genuinely awful the comic relief is, and how much of the running time is wasted on it. Nagel, at least, does not humiliate himself with a lousy performance, but that is the only good thing here.

Nobody should waste their time on this movie.

It's a 30's programmer, the last of a four entry series featuring Nagel and Hunt (IMDB) in the roles of detective and girl-friend assistant. The cast is lively even though there's not much suspense, while most action is goofy Barnette trying to tame his spindly camera stand. The good guys are on the trail of bank robbers who've made a series of big money heists. My favorite scene is the robbers in jail where they proceed to steal a big bundle, an imaginative idea that plays well. Adding to the plot is Nagel's sister Kay (Francis) who's unknowingly hooked up with the baddies and in danger of coming between brother and baddies. Too bad that angle is not played up more for suspense value. Then too, Barnette's role as comic relief is bigger than usual and unfortunately rivals the dramatic development. Anyway, the flick's nothing special, just an easy way to pass an hour and glimpse 30's fashions and flivvers, sort of like an installment of 30's TV if there were such a thing.

Clean-cut Conrad Nagel has a quick smile and ready wit as a federal agent on the trail of a pair of bank robbers whose brief stay in a small-town jail provides them with the perfect alibi when the local bank is robbed. A routine low-budget programmer that will fade quickly from the memory. The obligatory comic relief character - a clumsy photographer named Bulb - is particularly irritating.