This was a pretty low budget film from Warners considering it starred Wallace Ford and Brian Donlevy (Warners had lots of bigger name gangster actors at this time). However, despite this being a very slight movie and one that has some stupid moments (mostly involving Wallace Ford's character), it is still worth seeing--even if it loses steam towards the end of the film.
The first half of the film is great. Donlevy is a gangster wanted by the cops. He is a hideous man that is easy to recognize. However, he finds an evil plastic surgeon and afterwards he is kind of handsome. But, Donlevy thinks he is incredibly handsome and goes to Hollywood where, due to his HUGE ego, he knows he'll be a star. Well, his acting actually stinks and the only reason he is put in a gangster film is because the studio PR man thinks Donlevy is a rich playboy--and putting him in a film would drum up interest in the movie. Later, though, they find out who he really is and the very interesting movie then essentially becomes a 2nd-rate comedy of errors--and loses steam.
I think the film would have been better with more Donlevy and less Ford--his character was really annoying and stupid. However, the general plot idea isn't bad. To see a better but similar film, see Jimmy Cagney's film, LADY KILLER (1933).
The first half of the film is great. Donlevy is a gangster wanted by the cops. He is a hideous man that is easy to recognize. However, he finds an evil plastic surgeon and afterwards he is kind of handsome. But, Donlevy thinks he is incredibly handsome and goes to Hollywood where, due to his HUGE ego, he knows he'll be a star. Well, his acting actually stinks and the only reason he is put in a gangster film is because the studio PR man thinks Donlevy is a rich playboy--and putting him in a film would drum up interest in the movie. Later, though, they find out who he really is and the very interesting movie then essentially becomes a 2nd-rate comedy of errors--and loses steam.
I think the film would have been better with more Donlevy and less Ford--his character was really annoying and stupid. However, the general plot idea isn't bad. To see a better but similar film, see Jimmy Cagney's film, LADY KILLER (1933).