Lloyd Nolan plays a very obnoxious and thoughtless news reporter who is quite the workaholic. Again and again, he's supposed to meet his sweetie (Nancy Carroll), but time and again he gets diverted by some news story and stands her up. However, in a rather stupid (and dishonest) plan to make her happy AND still get a story, he is caught doctoring a story and is fired.
Later, Nolan happens upon a big story on a cruise ship and it seems like the chance to rebuild his ruined reputation. The girlfriend ALSO happens into the plan, as well as his sidekick (Harry Langdon). They are at serious risk of being bumped off by a gang of murderous thieves and again and again, Nolan is willing to risk their lives to get re-hired.
This is not one of the better B-movies I have ever seen--mostly due to lousy writing. While the overall plot idea isn't bad and could have made this a decent mystery B-film, it was undone by really horrid dialog and characters. While the idea of the thoughtless reporter boyfriend wasn't new (heck, Cagney and Gable have done similar roles), the problem is that Nolan just isn't likable. There is no underlying redeeming quality that helps the viewer to connect with him--he's all selfishness and can't be seen as anything other than a jerk. And, inexplicably, his girlfriend STILL marries him at the end of the film--even after he nearly got her killed and repeatedly used her. As a result, Carroll (the girl) seemed really stupid and you couldn't help but want to slap her! Forgettable and slight--there are many, many better B-mysteries out there.
Later, Nolan happens upon a big story on a cruise ship and it seems like the chance to rebuild his ruined reputation. The girlfriend ALSO happens into the plan, as well as his sidekick (Harry Langdon). They are at serious risk of being bumped off by a gang of murderous thieves and again and again, Nolan is willing to risk their lives to get re-hired.
This is not one of the better B-movies I have ever seen--mostly due to lousy writing. While the overall plot idea isn't bad and could have made this a decent mystery B-film, it was undone by really horrid dialog and characters. While the idea of the thoughtless reporter boyfriend wasn't new (heck, Cagney and Gable have done similar roles), the problem is that Nolan just isn't likable. There is no underlying redeeming quality that helps the viewer to connect with him--he's all selfishness and can't be seen as anything other than a jerk. And, inexplicably, his girlfriend STILL marries him at the end of the film--even after he nearly got her killed and repeatedly used her. As a result, Carroll (the girl) seemed really stupid and you couldn't help but want to slap her! Forgettable and slight--there are many, many better B-mysteries out there.