One of the best definitions of a "B" movie that I ever heard, came from a theater manager: "It's a picture that's good to come late for!" However, this comparatively well-produced little "B" does have something to offer in its opening sequence which is one of the funniest in the movie. Indeed, once the plot rears its all-too-familiar head, fun takes a distinct back seat to mild thrills and even milder romance.
True, Lewis Sargent clowns around and falls on his face continually, mostly to little purpose; but Edward Raquello makes such a handsome, charismatic lead, we are surprised to learn that nothing much came of his career. He is leaps and bounds ahead of the rest of the cast, although Philo McCullough and Henry Arras characterize suitably menacing heavies (who are of course suitably routed once the ho-hum plot springs its final "surprise").
Top-billed Carmelita Geraghty has not only little to do, but seems poorly photographed to boot (even in Grapevine's nice, tinted copy). Marie Messinger looks much more attractive.
Although production values are well above Mr Batcheller's customary abysmal level, Mr Hunt's direction is at best routine, at worst, dull. A little more skill could have enlivened the script no end.
