A crusading reporter is framed, sent to jail, but escapes to make a prosperous life in a new town, only to be blackmailed by an old cellmate he's double-crossed.
Despite the promising plot elements, the crime movie lacks needed grit, surprising for a Warner Bros. production. As a crusading reporter, Ames (aka Andrews) is much too bland to spark proceedings. Things pick up in final scenes, but by then it's too late. There's good support from McDaniel (Kit) and Harmon (Blake), but I'm with those who find blonde tot Hale on the annoying side. She's over-doing the aren't-I-cute bit. And catch that climax; it's like they had 30-seconds to tie up every loose end. I expect the production was rushed to accommodate burgeoning wartime audiences eager for escape. Now, I don't know about Dust Be My Destiny (1939), but the plot has a distinct resemblance to 1941's Strange Alibi, except the fall guy here is a reporter instead of a cop. A re-make wouldn't be surprising considering a speed-up on the programmer assembly line. Anyway, this 50-some minutes is easily passed up, especially if you've already seen the superior Strange Alibi.
Despite the promising plot elements, the crime movie lacks needed grit, surprising for a Warner Bros. production. As a crusading reporter, Ames (aka Andrews) is much too bland to spark proceedings. Things pick up in final scenes, but by then it's too late. There's good support from McDaniel (Kit) and Harmon (Blake), but I'm with those who find blonde tot Hale on the annoying side. She's over-doing the aren't-I-cute bit. And catch that climax; it's like they had 30-seconds to tie up every loose end. I expect the production was rushed to accommodate burgeoning wartime audiences eager for escape. Now, I don't know about Dust Be My Destiny (1939), but the plot has a distinct resemblance to 1941's Strange Alibi, except the fall guy here is a reporter instead of a cop. A re-make wouldn't be surprising considering a speed-up on the programmer assembly line. Anyway, this 50-some minutes is easily passed up, especially if you've already seen the superior Strange Alibi.